THE net is closing on the mother of the Baby On The Beach as police reveal a DNA breakthrough.

Cold case detectives investigating the shocking case of a newborn baby girl found dead on Weymouth Beach almost 30 years ago revealed they have a genetic profile of a woman who is thought to be the tragic tot’s mother.

It has been checked against the four million names on the DNA database but no positive matches have yet been found.

However it is seen as a significant step forward and detectives believe they could be close to finally solving the mystery.

The mother or anyone who knows her is now being asked to come forward before police track her down.

A man who called police with ‘information of interest’ is also being urged to call again.

Dorset Police crime review officer Phil James, who was today also making appeals in the Channel Islands where it is thought a piece of the puzzle could lie, stressed that police were sympathetic to the circumstances.

But he said officers were committed to bringing the historic case to a conclusion.

Advances in forensic technology enabled Mr James and his team to reopen the Baby On The Beach case earlier this year.

It dates back to October 15, 1981 when metal detector enthusiasts made a grim discovery near the Pier Bandstand.

A healthy 7lb baby girl less than six days old had been strangled and placed in a Jersey wine store carrier bag which in turn had been placed in a holdall. Also in the bag was the placenta, soap and a ‘popsock’ – the item thought to have been used to strangle the infant.

Despite extensive inquiries at the time, police never traced the parents or established how the baby died.

Mr James, who is a former Detective Superintendent with Dorset Police, made appeals in March this year after the case was reopened. Six calls were received which led nowhere although a call to the States of Jersey Police in August was promising.

Mr James said forensic scientists had now developed a full genetic profile of the new-born baby and an almost complete profile of a second person thought to be the mother. This was gathered from ‘material’ found in the bag.

He said: “We couldn’t find a match on the DNA database – although it will be checked daily – so we have to rely on the mother herself coming forward or members of the public who remember seeing something relevant.

“It would have speeded matters up if we had a DNA match but I’m not disappointed – we have something we can compare against. Once we have a suspect it’s a very simple process to either identify them through DNA or eliminate them from inquiries.”

Mr James added: “The mother will not have forgotten about this and must now be worried that one day the police will arrive on her doorstep. We are giving her the chance to come forward and explain what happened.

“She and the father may be keen to bring closure to this very sad case and may wish to do this with some dignity, rather than live in fear of receiving that unexpected call.”

A man contacted island police in the summer with information.

Mr James said the information could not be discussed but described it as a ‘very positive’ lead and he urged the man to call police again.

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police on 01305 222222, States of Jersey Police CID on 01534 612200 or Crimestoppers.