More than a dozen prospective families have called social workers to offer a home to the baby found close to death in a Leicester skip.

Normally social services in the city receive about 20 calls a week from parents wanting to find out how to adopt or foster a child. But in the space of just three days, a dozen people called wanting to offer a home to baby Joe. Joe - who is of Asian origin - was given his name by staff at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, who nursed him back to health after he was found in a skip more than a week ago. He is now being cared for by foster parents.

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Senior social worker Kathy Summerton said: "Social Services are grateful to all the warm-hearted people from all faiths and communities who have rung in to offer Joe a home.

"The good news is that the fostering and adoption teams usually have more than enough applicants who wish to bring up a baby.

"Several of the people who rang said that if Joe was not available, then they would be willing to consider another child. "If even one child finds a home with someone who had initially rung about Joe, then that would be something happy coming out of this sad story."

Joe - rescued minutes from death

A number of Asian adoptive parents have been assessed and vetted by Leicester social services and could become Joe's new family, if his blood relatives are not found.

The youngster, who is thought to have been born about a month premature, weighed just 5lb.

Since he was abandoned 11 days ago, his plight has touched the nation but what he really needs is the attention of one person in particular - his mum, so that he will have a better sense of who he is when he is older.

She has not come forward yet, but there is always hope.

As Ms Summerton, wrote in an open letter to Joe's mum: "I'm sure that you understand that Joe needs more than food, toys and love. He won't always be a baby and in time he will need to know something about who he is."

Joe's family or anyone with information about them is asked to call the social services on 0116 256 5982 or police on 0116 222 2222.

Anyone requiring further information on how to become a foster or adoptive parents can contact the social services on 0116 299 5800.

Used courtesy of the Leicester Mercury