Lancashire Police have launched an urgent search for the mother of a foetus whose remains were found in a bag near the River Hodder in Stonyhurst, after a member of the public discovered what they believed to be a placenta. Detectives say identifying and locating the woman is a priority, as they are concerned for her health and welfare and fear she may be frightened to come forward. The case matters both as a welfare concern for the mother, who officers believe may have been through a traumatic experience, and as a live criminal investigation into how the remains came to be there.

The remains were discovered on Tuesday beneath Hodder Bridge, with a police cordon still in place while enquiries continue. The foetus is not thought to have reached full-term gestation, and officers are working to establish its exact age. Detective Chief Inspector Jill Vescovi appealed directly to the mother to come forward, or to confide in someone she trusts, so she can receive any necessary care and so her baby can be given "the goodbye they deserve." Police also want to trace a man seen in the area with his two children between 1pm and 3pm on the day of the discovery, and are asking anyone who noticed anything unusual nearby to contact them.