Baby left in supermarket car

A 6-month-old baby was whisked to hospital after being discovered alone in a car in a Christchurch supermarket carpark yesterday.

Emergency services converged on the Church Corner Countdown supermarket in Upper Riccarton when a passerby noticed the baby in distress about 3.30pm.

Police forced their way into the car and the baby was taken to Christchurch Hospital by ambulance and later discharged. She was unharmed.

Sergeant Danny Harker said the mother had left her baby asleep in the car with the windows on one side slightly down. She had been checking on the car regularly.

Police had spoken to her and although the incident was being treated seriously, charges would not be laid.

"You don't leave your 6-month-old in the car at any time," he said. "I think she has learned her lesson."

- NZPA