HERO grandparents who saved the life of a newborn abandoned on their doorstep said she was blue and cold as an ice block when they found her.

Carol and Ted Lyons, of Green Lane, Edgware, had been watching Coronation Street last night (Monday, March 21) when they thought they heard a baby crying.

At first thinking it was coming from the television, Mr Lyons saw a shadow in the hallway and went to investigate.

Opening the door he saw the tiny baby - thought to be only a couple of hours old - wearing only a baby grow, pink cotton hat and white bib.

Mr Lyons, 75, ran back to the living room and said "It's a baby. There's a baby on the doorstep."

Mrs Lyons, 69, said she couldn't believe what was happening. She hurried out and told her husband to pick it up.

He said: "She was like a block of ice. She was freezing."

He handed her to his wife, who held her against her chest while he went to get towels from the tumble dryer to try and warm the child.

Mrs Lyons, a retired first aider and welfare assistant at Goldbeaters Primary School, said the baby's tiny mouth and nose were blue with cold.

She said: "I had her in one arm. I put blankets on her and phoned the police and ambulance.

"I wanted to change her, but they said I must not do anything other than keep her warm.

"Her nose was blue, her little mouth was blue. I can't believe how cold that baby was. I just held onto her so tight. All I kept saying was stay with me baby, stay with me."

No note was left with the baby and no one rang the doorbell.

Mrs Lyons said she had no idea how long she was out on the doorstep before they realised.

She said: "I never would have forgiven myself if she had passed away. He little lips were so blue.

"In the moment, we acted alright but I have barely slept worrying about her.

"She was crying and I just wanted her to keep crying because then at least I knew she was still here with us.

"I didn't want to let her go. She was perfect. Children are so precious."

When the paramedics came, they tested the baby's blood and found out she was only a couple of hours old. She was taken to hospital and the police later said she appeared to be "okay".

Mrs Lyons, who is due to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband later this year, said she could never condemn the mother.

The grandmother of four said: "She must have been desperate, I cannot condemn her for that. I don't know why she chose my doorstep. I just can't believe it still, it was shocking.

"I would have done everything I could to save her, resuscitation if I had to. Children are too special to me."

Mr Lyon, a retired haulage contractor, said: "I am chuffed that she's doing okay, it's really great to hear. She was so perfect, any baby is beautiful."

Update: The mother of the baby, a woman in her 20s, was traced by police shortly before midnight yesterday.

She has been arrested on suspicion of neglect prior to being taken to hospital for medical assessment.

Neither mother nor baby are thought to be in a life threatening condition.

Police have described the baby as being "safe and well" in a north London hospital.