A baby girl, with her umbilical cord still attached, was discovered in a cardboard box next to a trash bin in the central Athens district of Exarchia early yesterday morning.

The newborn was found by a woman passing through the area who alerted the police and ambulance service immediately after hearing its cries.

The infant was taken to the Aghia Sofia Children’s Hospital to receive first-aid treatment and to undergo medical tests.

Doctors released no statements regarding the state of the baby’s health nor how long she is believed to have been left alone in the trash on a cold and damp day.

Police have launched a search for the mother of the infant who is believed to be a local woman.