A WOMAN who was put up for adoption a week after she was born is searching for her father who she believes may still live in York.

Jane Hartley, 52, was born at Fulford Maternity Hospital on October 1, 1965, and was put up for adoption by her teenage mum who was unmarried.

She was taken to live in Mirfield by her adoptive parents and had a very happy childhood.

But more than half a century later, Jane feels time is running out to find her biological father.

Jane said: "I feel it's my human right to find my natural father and I'm clutching at straws. His name isn't on my birth certificate and I realise he may not be interested but I'd like to take that chance and find out for myself."

Jane has traced her birth mother however she is no longer in contact with her.

Her mother would only say about her father that he was "best forgotten" but she said that she wants to find him herself.

The only clues available are that her mother was in her late teens and lived in the Rawcliffe area and she named her daughter Sally. Her adoptive parents later gave her the name Jane. She had a strawberry birth mark on her head.

Jane is not aware of where her father lived or what he did but she is hopeful he may have known of her existence. "Does he know about me? Does he think about me?" she said.

Now a mum-of-three, Jane said about her upbringing: "I was very happy. My adoptive dad worked very hard but we had a caravan and used to go on lots of holidays.

"I always wanted to be a parent like my adoptive mum, she was very hands on. They always told me from a young age that I was chosen and I never had a chip on my shoulder.

"I just want to know where I come from."

- If you have information about Jane's father, please email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk