A woman has been arrested on suspicion of child abduction after allegedly attempting to walk off with a baby in a pram near Blackpool’s seafront.
The alarming incident happened at around 11.30am on Saturday near the Coral Island Amusement Centre, a popular spot along the Blackpool promenade.
The baby was being pushed in their pram by a parent when the woman reportedly approached and attempted to take the child. Members of the public, along with the baby’s parent, quickly intervened and contacted police.
A police spokesperson said: “Members of the public, and the baby's parent intervened, and thankfully the baby was unharmed.”
The woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of child abduction and assaulting a police officer.
Chief Inspector John Jennings-Wharton of Blackpool Police said: “We know that something like this can be very concerning for the community to hear about.
“We are in the early stages of our investigation and are working to establish the full circumstances.
“We are aware of some social media posts that have been shared online. We'd encourage you not to speculate, and to understand that our enquiries are very much ongoing.
“If you do have information or footage that could assist those enquiries, we ask you report them to us through the appropriate channels.”
Police confirmed the baby was not harmed and has been safely reunited with their parent.
The incident comes just weeks after Blackpool was named the most dangerous seaside town in the UK, with crime rates among the highest nationally — only surpassed by parts of London, Manchester, and Middlesbrough.
