A car driver in Darlington caused shock and alarm in the community after police pulled over a car on Sunday (January 29) to reveal that a baby was lying in the back seat unrestrained in the vehicle. 

Officers from Durham Police's road team initially pulled over a vehicle after seeing a small child moving around the back seats of the car.

After watching on in shock, the officers pulled over the car and spoke to the driver - while also finding that the child in the back was an 11-month-old baby that had no form of restraint at all. 

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Officers also found that the rear passenger of the car also had no seatbelt on.

After issuing some words of advice, the driver was reported for the motoring offences and forced to walk home by police officers.

In a statement from the road policing team, officers said: "Vehicle stopped in Darlington today after a small child was seen moving around on the rear seats.

"An 11-month-old baby was found lying completely unrestrained on the seat, with nothing but the loose arm of a passenger, who also had no seatbelt on, to prevent her from flying through the windscreen if a collision occurred.

"Whatever you may believe, it is simply not possible to hold onto a child during a collision.

"Relevant forms submitted, driver reported for offences and sent walking with the child being carried."

Following the incident, members of the public in Darlington expressed their shock and anger at the driver - with some branding the act 'reckless' and 'idiotic'.

One person took to social media to say: "This is so dangerous for the child and all of the family," while another added: "What an idiotic act - the child could have ben seriously injured."