Mother held over little girl found abandoned in a pram in Carlisle

Police have traced the mother of a young girl who was found abandoned in a pram outside a house late yesterday.

The child, believed to be aged either two or three, was discovered outside an address in Warwick Road in Carlisle, Cumbria, at about 11pm.

A 42-year-old woman from Carlisle has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect, said Cumbria Constabulary.

Police earlier issued an appeal over a woman who rang the doorbell at the house then disappeared.

The people living at the address did not know the woman and alerted police. When they arrived, officers found the youngster in a pram.

A spokeswoman for Cumbria Constabulary said: "Police have located the mother of the little girl who was left on Warwick Road late last night.

"A 42-year-old woman from Carlisle has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and is helping police with their inquiries.

"The little girl is safe and well and is being looked after by the appropriate authorities.

"Police would like to thank members of the community who assisted in helping them to locate the woman."

One resident of Warwick Road said the police called at his house at about midnight and asked if he knew of any Polish families living on the street.

"A police lady knocked on the door at about midnight," he said.

"She said I'm sorry to bother you, I was looking for a house with a light on.

"The reason she knocked she said was to see if anyone knew of any Polish families that lived along here.

"I think there's some that live about five or six doors down so I pointed them out to her."

Another neighbour said just after 11pm he heard a lot of noise, including shouting and banging.

PA