A STORE detective was literally left holding the baby when a mother fled after she was challenged in a supermarket.

The suspected shoplifter abandoned the child in the aisle and made a speedy getaway.

Officials said she entered the Kwik Save store, in the centre of Hartlepool, pushing the youngster in a buggy. A member of staff is believed to have spotted her stealing from one of the shelves and approached her.

The woman then ran from the shop and into York Road, leaving the baby behind.

A spokeswoman for the store said shop staff contacted police and had to take care of the child until officers arrived.

She said: "Staff were totally shocked by the incident. As I understand it, the child was absolutely fine.

"When police arrived they took care of the child, which was a very young baby."

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police confirmed the incident took place at the York Road store at about 5.45pm on Tuesday.

Staff at Kwik Save say they informed police of the incident and have described the baby as being "tiny".

The spokeswoman said the child was not aware of being left alone and was not thought to have been distressed.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said a 27-year-old woman was arrested in the Stephen Street area of Hartlepool on Wednesday in connection with a theft.

The woman has been bailed pending further inquiries.