Merseyside Police officers closed a major Southport road for around five hours today, after receiving reports that a baby had been found lying in the road.

Norwood Road was shut at its junction with Sussex Road at around 10.30am this morning as police officers arrived to investigate the claim.

Police tape went up by Sussex Road and near Keats Terrace, with a police car at each end and Police Community Support officers on duty, as officers investigated.

The tape was later extended to near Meols Cop Bridge and Meols Cop Station.

Forensic officers were called in as police officers and PCSOs carried out door to door inquiries with local residents.

One occupant, Kevin Tasker, said: “Police came and knocked on my door this morning at around 10.30am.

“They asked if I had been out this morning or last night, and had I seen anything in the road?

“One of my neighbours said they’d had reports there was a baby in the road.

“The forensics team came later on. There was a big white forensics van parked by the church.”

Another local resident said: “I got back from work earlier and tried to park, but couldn’t get anywhere near my house.

”The police cordoned off the road and wouldn’t let anyone drive through.

”The road was cordoned off at the junction with Sussex Road and the police tape was up to where United Utilities have been carrying out their roadworks a couple of hundreds yards away.

“But since they packed up and left police moved the police tape right back, towards Meols Cop Station and Meols Cop Bridge.

”They won’t tell us what’s happened - they just said they’re waiting for their forensics team to arrive.”

Another onlooker said: “There were police officers down there carrying out house to house inquiries, knocking on doors on Norwood Road and Keats Terrace.

”There are police cars down there at either end of the cordon and police community support officers there as well.

“Whatever’s happened it looks serious.”

Police say they arrived at the scene this morning after a member of the public contacted them to say they were concerned by something they saw lying in the road.

A statement sent to Visiter.co.uk by Merseyside Police said: “Alongside members of the medical profession, officers say they examined a photograph taken by this member of the public, which they now believe to be a doll.

“However, officers attended and have made a thorough examination of the scene, spoken to numerous witnesses and conducted house to house enquiries.

“At this time they have found nothing but enquiries are ongoing in the local area.”

Norwood Road has since been re-opened to traffic.

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