Police are investigating after a newborn baby was found in a plastic bag in the US state of Georgia.

Named 'Baby India', she was discovered with an umbilical cord still attached in woodlands on Thursday June 6th.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office have released footage of the operation.

"We release this footage in hopes to receive credible information on the identity of Baby India and to show how important it is to find closure in this case", police say.

Image: Facebook/Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

The clip begins with the baby's cries as officers arrive at the scene.

Speaking to a man who can be seen in the footage, they ask: "How did you hear it?"

"We heard it from our house," the man replies.

"Oh look at you, sweetheart - oh I'm so sorry" says one officer, as the bag is torn open to free the youngster, who lets out a few more cries as the officer cradles the child and awaits assistance from paramedics.

"Oh, look how precious you are," the officer adds, before the newborn is wrapped up in blankets.

Police say they are continuing to "aggressively investigate and to follow leads".

The baby is in the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.

The state of Georgia has a law called 'Safe Haven', which allows a child's mother to leave her baby, up to 30 days old, with an employee of any medical facility without prosecution.

This includes hospitals, fire stations and police stations.