Hundreds of mourners attend open funeral for unknown baby girl in Oxford

Police found stillborn baby Raihana in a black bag on a footpath with her umbilical cord still attached and are now searching for the mother

Mourners walk through the cemetery for the funeral of a baby girl who was found dead on a footpath earlier this year at Wolvercote Cemetery (Getty Images)

More than 150 people attended the funeral of a stillborn baby girl they did not know at Wolvercote Cemetery in Oxford.

An open funeral was held for baby Raihana who was found dead in a black bag on a footpath in the city, her umbilical cord still attached.

Mourners paid their respects by leaving pink teddy bears and bouquets of flowers, along with notes of remembrance.

The baby was named Raihana - meaning "heaven's flower" - by the officers who found her and was honoured with an official naming ceremony before being buried.

The identity of the mother still remains unknown and police have urged her to come forward.

An investigation by a coroner found that Raihana was stillborn and it is believed the birth took place elsewhere, not near the location where she was found.

Suzi Horsley, a 33-year-old from Oxford, lost four babies during pregnancy and said she hopes the mother has people around to help her.

"I felt quite strongly that she should be mourned, and that her mother should be supported as well,” Ms Horsley told the BBC.

"I hope she sees the coverage of today and sees that there is a network of mothers who understand her loss and understand that pain."

Before the funeral, Detective Inspector Jim Holmes, the officer who gave Raihana her name, put out an appeal to find her family, the Metro reported.