A baby girl thought to be less than a month old has been found in a cardboard box left outside a house in Northamptonshire.

The infant, wrapped in a blue blanket, was discovered at about 9am by a member of the public who heard a noise coming from the box.

Police said the child, found in Ibsen Walk, Corby, appears to be in good health and is being cared for at Kettering general hospital.

The baby has dark hair and is believed to be between one and four weeks old.

Officers urgently need to trace the baby’s mother and have appealed for her to come forward amid concern for her welfare.

Northamptonshire police Det Supt Steven Lingley said: “For me, it’s really important that urgently we trace the baby’s mother.

“We are concerned for her welfare. The circumstances of this are quite unusual, quite extreme.”

Anyone with information to assist the inquiry is urged to contact Northamptonshire police on 101 or to call the Crimestoppers service anonymously on 0800 555 111.