Police rescue distraught baby left in hot car

A BABY left alone in a locked car for more than an hour as outside temperatures soared to 21C had to be rescued by police after being spotted by shoppers.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Sep 2012, 07:00 BST

The 17-month-old girl was seen inside a Citroen C1 in the Alhambra shopping centre car park in Barnsley on Tuesday, sparking concern for her safety.

The car park had to be closed while police smashed a window to rescue the child who was clearly in distress.

An eyewitness said: “The baby was crying when they pulled her out and a female officer was comforting her.

“It was really warm and there can’t have been a window open or it wouldn’t have been as difficult to get in.”

Announcements were made over a tannoy asking for the car owner to return but the plea went unanswered.

Police said the baby did not need hospital treatment after the incident.

A South Yorkshire police spokesman said: “A 43-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of child abandonment and has since been released with a police caution.”