Buddhist monks found an abandoned baby girl inside a temple toilet stall in Thailand.

Phra Meekham Nipopyo, 48, was drinking his morning coffee when he heard an infant's cries at the Wat Khao Pong Saket Phutthachan temple in Chonburi province on the morning of September 20.

Thinking it was the baby of a passer-by, he resumed eating breakfast only to be jolted by more shrill crying.

He said: 'I noticed that it was coming from the toilet stalls. One of them was closed so I thought someone was inside. Suddenly, the baby cried again.

'I opened the door and was shocked to find her lying there wrapped in blankets. There were red ants crawling all over her. I can't believe her parents could leave her like this.'

The monk called police and medics about the discovery.

The newborn was taken to the Bang Lamung Hospital for a check-up.

Resident Somporn Meealai, 50, said she was willing to adopt the baby girl as she had no children of her own.

Police Colonel Nawin Sinthurat, Superintendent of the Bang Lamung Police Station, said: ‘Patrol officers inspected the scene and collected photos as evidence. We will track down the cruel parents and bring them to justice.'