A SAFETY petition for Marston was taken to the authorities yesterday after a newborn baby was discovered dead on a footpath in the estate.

More than 500 people have signed the petition to introduce street lighting and CCTV cameras for the footpath just off Edgeway Road.

Thames Valley Police says it is still attempting to trace the mother of the baby girl, whose body was dumped near to the path on the morning of Monday, February 29.

Oxford City Councillor for Marston Mick Haines, who drew up the petition, has handed it over to Oxford University, who are understood to own part of the land, and to Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority.

He said: "Hopefully it won't take them too long to look at it - maybe a week - and we can think about improving the safety in the area.

"I think it's so important after what happened and hopefully it would go some way in changing things."

Marston mum-of-one Yvonne Kimber-Gunn agreed that more lighting would make residents feel safer in their community.

She said: "I support any attempt of having outdoor lighting along the footpath if it means an improvement in safety."

South Central Ambulance Service spokesman David Gallagher said the baby was pronounced dead on arrival with experts saying she had been lying in the bushes between one and three days before she was found.

The mother of the baby can still come forward by calling a midwife on 01865 740429 or police on 101.