THE circumstances surrounding the death of a baby discovered in waste at a recycling centre have been described as 'deeply tragic' by a Lincolnshire coroner.

The body of the baby boy, later named Jacob, was found in a bin bag by an employee sorting through rubbish at the plant in Addlethorpe on October 15, 2009.

An inquest, held at Horncastle on Tuesday, heard that a post mortem examination by Home Office pathologist Dr Elizabeth Turk was unable to ascertain the cause of death but that indications showed the baby was alive when delivery set in and either died in the birth canal or shortly after birth.

The baby had also sustained a number of injuries consistent with its journey to the plant.

The inquest also heard that a pair of jogging bottoms had been wrapped around the baby's neck, with one theory being that this had been in an attempt to assist with the birth.

Investigating officer DI Andy Wardell told the inquest: "The baby, its parents and the full background of how it came to be at the recycling centre remain unidentified. It was always believed he was born in the coastal area of Lincolnshire, maybe Skegness, but I also underline the possibility that it could have been brought into the area and placed in a household recycling bin.

"The case remains very much live should the police receive any further information and any new lines of inquiry will be fully considered."

A DNA profile of the mother was obtained from blood samples and then checked against a national database but the results were negative. A partial DNA profile was also obtained for the father but it would have thrown up too many possible searches from the database.

DI Wardell added that police contacted schools and social services in the knowledge that they could have been looking for a young teenage mother, but this also proved unsuccessful.

Baby Jacob was named by an anonymous businessman who made a donation to ensure a proper memorial for him and he was laid to rest in a graveside service at St Nicholas Church in Addlethorpe at the end of last month.

Coroner Stuart Fisher recorded an open verdict into the case, adding: "It is abundantly clear to me the police have made extensive efforts to try and locate the child's mother and in part the father. I believe it has been a very full and thorough investigation and for that the police should be praised.

"The circumstances surrounding this child's death can only be described as deeply tragic in respect of the child but also his mother. I fully support the police in their continuing request to Jacob's mother to come forward."