A DEDICATED team of police officers will take over the search for the mother of abandoned baby Oliver from Monday.

DI Nick Jarrett, of the Family Support Unit, who is leading the investigation, said 15 officers had been working on the case up to now, among their other duties.

But this number will be scaled down, with the remaining officers assigned full-time to finding Oliver's mum.

Baby Oliver (pictured) was found outside a home in Newport last Sunday - thought to be the first time Gwent Police have dealt with a case of an abandoned baby.

And detectives say this case is an unique one - despite extensive inquiries with other forces, they have not been able to find a single other case of a baby this old being abandoned.

Oliver is believed to be between 18 and 21 weeks old, several weeks older than was originally thought. Social services were able to give a more accurate estimate of his age after measuring the tot's head.

And nearly a week on, detectives say they are no nearer finding his family. DI Jarrett said: "We have spoken to the National Missing Person's Bureau and we have liaised with them to establish whether there are any missing children through the UK.

"We have e-mailed them a photo of Oliver and the details of the circumstances of his finding, and they will do what they can for us. They have ways of circulating things on a national basis.

"But with something like this, before we start looking further afield, we have to satisfy ourselves we have covered everything we can in the Newport area."

Officers are trying to trace the person who bought the distinctive navy blue and orange pram that Oliver was in when he was found.

Seven people in Newport - who purchased a similar pushchair since September - were questioned and eliminated. Detectives have widened their inquiries to surrounding areas.

IT technicians from Index, who sold the pram, have been working to produce a list of customers who bought one between May, when it was manufactured, and the end of August.

While the hunt for his mum goes on, Oliver is being looked after by experienced foster carers who are particularly used to caring for young children.

They told the Argus that the little boy had settled really well.

"It is difficult to know if he is missing his mum given how young he is," said one of his carers.

"He is happy on the whole and is still very much a baby, sleeping and eating. He is a very contented baby."

His foster carers revealed that he likes musical toys. "He loves having lots of cuddles and being rocked."

He also appears to enjoy the company of other children.