A woman attempted to abduct a newborn baby from a hospital labour ward as the mother looked on.

Police were called to the flagship Guy's Hospital in London on Sunday night after alert staff raised the alarm and prevented the woman from taking the baby boy.

The infant boy, believed to be one or two days old, was picked up by the woman who refused to return the child to its cot when challenged by the mother and staff.

The nurses reacted quickly and took the baby and called security guards who detained her and alerted police.

Investigation

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "The baby was not harmed and is with his mother."

A spokesman for Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust said: "Security systems are in place on the ward and the Trust will be carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances of this incident."

The woman believed to be in her late 20s or early 30s was arrested on suspicion of attempted abduction. She is being held at a south London police station.