Police were today investigating the gruesome discovery of a naked baby boy's body wrapped only in a towel and dumped at a council tip.

Alongside the tragic tot - who was thought to be only a few hours old and weighed just 7lbs - was a cot and a crumpled list of baby names.

A passer-by discovered the dead infant - wrapped in the salmon-coloured towel and with some blankets close by - in a skip at Pudsey tip at Grangefield Industrial Estate at 8.30pm last night.

Now detectives are anxious to trace the mother - who they fear could require urgent medical attention.

A police spokesman said an inquiry had been launched into the circumstances surrounding the death and that a post mortem examination was due to be carried out today.

He added: "One of the primary concerns at the moment is for the welfare of the mother. Police are concerned that she may need medical help, and are appealing for her to contact them."

The body was found at the Grangefield Household Waste Site on Pudsey's sprawling industrial estate.

Today, the tip was closed and several large skips were cordoned off with an officer guarding the scene.

Normally the household waste tip is open from 9am to 5pm and the giant skips are emptied daily.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "We were called out by the police at around 9.15pm last night to open up Pudsey household waste site in Grangefield Road.

"The police made the tragic discovery of the body of a baby. We are providing the police with every assistance and the site will remain closed today to enable them to carry out their investigation."

Members of the public who turn up at the site are being redirected to alternative facilities."

Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Bullock, from Pudsey police, said anyone with information is asked to contact Pudsey police on 0113 2414859.