The body of a newborn baby was on Tuesday morning discovered abandoned in a Stockton backyard, police have said.
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Emergency services were called to a home on Church Street in the Newcastle suburb shortly after 7am on Tuesday after the baby was found dead in the backyard.
Police officers, detectives and forensic teams remained on scene at midday.
Neighbours lined the quiet street awaiting news of what had occurred, with some residents saying the first they knew of any incident was when emergency services raced into the street with lights and sirens blazing about 7am.
Police now "hold grave concerns for the welfare of the mother, who may need to seek urgent medical treatment". They are appealing for public assistance to help find the woman.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and the police operation, which was ongoing.
Police will address the media at 1pm Tuesday.
A post mortem examination will be conducted in an effort to establish the age of the baby and cause of death.
This will form part of a report which will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.