A toddler was found walking along a busy road alone in St Helens this morning.
A frantic search was launched to find the parents after the alarm was raised at the Aldi store on Clock Face Road.
The boy, who was around to two to three years of age, was taken into the care of police.
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Despite the rainy weather, he was described as wearing only a nappy when found.
Door-to-door enquiries were carried out in the immediate area in a bid to find his parents.
Community groups and individuals also put out their own appeals on social media, with hundreds of people expressing their concern for the child's welfare.
Fortunately the child's dad was located shortly afterwards.
At this stage it is not known how the child came to be found where he was.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "At around 9.55am this morning (Friday, August 6) we received a report that a young child was found alone, walking along Clock Face Road in St Helens.
"Patrols attended and located the child's father a short while later.
"The child was taken to hospital as a precaution.
"Social services have been informed and an investigation into the incident is ongoing."
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