Couple ‘dropped bag’ hours before street cleaners found dead baby ‘next to bin’

John Dunne, Katie Boyden and Sam Corbishley

Published March 25, 2025 4:48pm Updated March 26, 2025 4:30pm

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A couple dropped a bag at the spot where a dead baby boy was found around two hours before street cleaners found the tragic tot, a witness has said.

Police are today hunting to find the baby’s mother, after the young boy, who officers believe was a newborn, was found in a Marks and Spencer’s bag yesterday.

The infant was declared dead at the scene on Talbot Road in Notting Hill shortly before 1pm.

A scaffolder who was working on a platform overlooking the spot where the baby was found lifeless on Tuesday told Metro he noticed two people there earlier in the day.

The worker, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It was around 10am. A couple in their 50s left a bag on the street.

‘The man was rustling the bag as if tying it. He walked ahead and the woman followed him.

Couple ?dropped bag? hours before street cleaners found dead baby ?next to bin? Talbot Road in Notting Hill — Tributes have been left at the scene following the death of the newborn baby (Picture: John Dunne)

‘They were quite calm. The strange thing is that I had seen them the week before.

‘They were looking around the bin which is used by the council for garden waste.

‘People are not supposed to dump rubbish bags there but they do.’

He added: ‘I have reported this to police. The timing was right.

‘Obviously, I didn’t think much of it at the time but given what has happened I thought it may be important.’

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Street Cleaner Discovers Dead Baby in Bag by Bin at Notting Hill Church ??? Police Urgently Seeking Mother Notting Hill, London ??? Tuesday, 25 March 2025 ??? A heartbreaking discovery was made in west London this afternoon after the body of a newborn baby was found in a bag next to a bin outside a church in Notting Hill. Police have launched an urgent investigation and are appealing for the baby???s mother to come forward, warning she may be in urgent need of medical attention. Emergency services were called at approximately 12:46pm after a Westminster City Council street cleaner reportedly discovered the bag while sweeping leaves near All Saints??? Church on Talbot Road, W11. The worker is understood to have picked up the bag, found near a bin, and realised it was unusually heavy before making the grim discovery. Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service responded, but tragically, the infant was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers remain at the scene, where a blue forensic tent has been erected and a wide cordon has been placed around the church, blocking access from Clydesdale Road, Colville Gardens, and Powys Square. Forensic teams are working to establish the circumstances of the incident. At this stage, detectives have not confirmed the baby???s gender or exact age. One local resident told reporters: ???I was told a binman who was sweeping up leaves and putting them in the bin found the body next to it. The guy picked up the plastic bag near the bin and realised it was too heavy. It???s horrible. But you don???t know what situation the mother was in.??? Police are making an urgent appeal to locate the baby's mother, amid fears she may have given birth very recently and could be in a vulnerable or critical condition. Superintendent Owen Renowden said: ???This is an extremely sad and shocking matter and officers are working hard to establish the circumstances around w — The baby’s body was found yesterday afternoon and the mum is believed to have given birth recently (Picture: UKNIP)

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Police remain at the scene at All Saints Church, Notting Hill.

Officers gave an update today and said they urged the mum of the baby to come forward, and were looking for any witnesses who saw the Marks and Spencer’s carrier bag with an avocado design on it.

A housing association worker who helps run a block next to the scene told Metro: ‘People are always dumping their rubbish there it’s terrible.

‘The poor guys who found the baby I feel so sorry for them it’s horrific. You can’t unsee that.’

Detectives are investigating with experts trawling through CCTV footage with a camera opposite the scene likely to be key to the inquiry.

Deputy church warden Marcia Haynes told Metro how police searched the church after the baby was found and how her prayers were with the woman and her family.

She said: ‘My prayers are with the family and poor baby. There was a church service and then the police came in they searched everywhere.

‘I think they thought the mother may have been in here. It’s such a shock.

‘They were in the toilets and everywhere.’

A blue police tent is up at the scene and two forensic officers were seen walking towards it.

Investigation launched following discovery of the body of a newborn baby An investigation has begun following the discovery of the body of a newborn baby in Notting Hill - and police are urgently appealing for the mother to come forward for her own welfare. Officers were called at 12:46hrs on Tuesday, 25 March to the end of Talbot Road, W11 on Powis Gardens, following a report that the body of a baby had been found in a bag, left outside a church. — Officers remain in the area and inquiries are ongoing to locate the baby’s mother (Picture: Metro/Katie Boyden)

Superintendent Owen Renowden said: ‘Local officers have worked through the night and continue enquiries this morning, to locate the mother of the baby.

‘We were called at 12:46pm to All Saints Church near Talbot Road, following the discovery of a newborn baby in a shopping bag.

‘This was a black Marks and Spencer’s bag with pictures of avocados on the side. The bag was discovered by a council refuse worker who immediately contacted police.

‘Officers attended alongside colleagues from the London Ambulance Service but, very sadly, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘We can now confirm that the baby was a boy and we believe that he was a newborn when he died.

‘I want to praise the professionalism in particular of the local refuse worker and also the responding emergency services who I know will have been deeply affected by this incident yesterday.

‘As shocking and tragic as this is, my priority remains the mother’s welfare and health.

‘We are really worried about her wellbeing as she will have recently given birth. I know she will likely be feeling very frightened and going through an extremely difficult time.

Officers said the young boy was found in a Marks and Spencers bag outside the church (Picture: Met Police)

‘If you are the baby’s mother and see this today – I want to appeal directly to you to come forward to receive help and support.

‘My priority is to help, and make sure you can receive medical assistance. You can do this at any time by attending any hospital, police station or by calling the emergency services.

‘I also want to appeal this morning to anyone who may have information that can assist us to make contact.

‘In particular if you saw anyone in the area with the Marks and Spencer’s bag or saw anything that you felt was unusual.

‘I know the community here are concerned by what has happened and we will be continuing our close work with our partners to support local people. The neighbourhood policing teams will be remaining in this area over the coming days and we will also be available every Wednesday at our regular community drop-in at Thorpe Close.

‘I want to end this morning by repeating my plea to the baby’s mother to come forward and to reassure her that our main thoughts are with her wellbeing and getting her any help that she may need.’

Anyone who may have any information about this incident should contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 3431/25March.

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