Police are hunting for a thief who stole a car with a baby inside.

Officers were called to Beaver Lane, Ashford, after a woman reported her car had been taken from her driveway with her child inside.

She had briefly left her child in the car with the engine running and someone got in it and drove away.

A few minutes later the car was found abandoned on Essetford Road with the child safe and sound inside.

The mother and child were promptly reunited.

The incident happened shortly before 3pm on Tuesday.

Crime scene investigators are now conducting a forensic search of the car, while officers are making inquiries for CCTV footage.