RESIDENTS arrived at the Spar store on Newport Road throughout the day yesterday to lay flowers and cuddly toys in memory of the abandonned baby boy.

Laurie Rogers, 18, from Crumlin, and Joshua Harris, 21, from Cwmcarn, laid a floral tribute with a card which read: “Baby Cwmcarn RIP. You will be sadly missed by all at this tragic time.”

Miss Rogers, who is five months pregnant, said: “I was just devastated when I heard. I called him Baby Cwmcarn because all babies are given a name and he deserves one too. I didn't want him to be forgotten”

Miss Rogers said she thought members of the community would want to make a collection to put towards a funeral or memorial service for the baby boy.

Another bouquet left by staff at the Spar store had a tribute which said: “Rest in peace little one. Safe in the arms of Jesus”, while a card attached to a soft toy of Winnie the Pooh character Eeyor read: “RIP baby boy. Sleep tight.”

Another read: “Sleep tight little one. So sorry you didn’t get to see the world.”

Yvonne Rogers, who lives two doors down from the Spar on Newport Road, said the whole community was in shock over the discovery.

“It’s such a terrible thing to happen,” she said. “Everyone feels desperately sorry for the mother, and its been very distressing for everyone. You never expect this sort of thing to happen on your door step.”

Lesley Porter, who has lived in the village for 23 years and works in Cwmcarn Trading, said she planned to lay flowers outside the store over the weekend.

“There’s been a huge sense of sadness and worry for the mother. People are terribly upset. I just hope she can find the courage from somewhere to come forward and ask for help,” she said.

Reverend Alicia Baker, minister at St John’s Church in Cwmcarn, said this had been a tragic incident, and that the hearts of those in the village went out to the baby and his mother.

She said: “The mother is clearly in a desperate situation and we urge her to identify herself as soon as possible in order that she can get the help she needs. Our prayers are with them both.”

* In 2002, the body of a baby boy was found in a disused canal at nearby Newbridge.

The mother was never found.