Twin foetuses found dead by the side of road in California

The twins, who were around 20 weeks into development, were abandoned

The babies were found outside a home in Fallbrook, San Diego (Google streetview)

The foetuses of twins have been found dead by the side of a road in California.

A resident in Fallbrook, San Diego, made the gruesome discovery outside his home on Friday afternoon.

David Branford told NBC he initially thought the foetuses, which were wrapped in a blanket, were a discarded doll when he left the house to do morning chores at 9am.

But when he returned hours later, he looked under the blanket and called police.

The foetuses were at least 20 weeks old and described as “fully developed” by the San Diego County Sherriff’s Department.

Each had its own umbilical cord attached to the same placenta, a statement said.

The cause of the twins’ death is being investigated by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Detectives are appealing for help tracing their mother, who they said would have been recently pregnant but have no baby to show after giving birth.

A reward of up to $1,000 (£650) is being offered for information leading to an arrest.