Concerned neighbours called the police after spotting a two-year-old tot by himself outside a supermarket wearing only a nappy.
A frantic search was launched to locate the parents after the alarm was raised at an Aldi store this morning, Friday August 6.
The young boy was taken into the care of police after officers arrived at the scene to probe the worrying incident.
Daily Star reports that despite the rainy weather, he was described as wearing only a nappy when he was found.
A door-to-door search was carried out in the Merseyside area of St Helens, in an attempt to locate his parents.
Community groups and individuals also put out their own appeals on social media, with hundreds of people in the local area expressing their concern for the child's welfare.
It is still not known how the child came to be found where he was.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed: "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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