Police in Georgia have arrested a woman they say left her three young children in a hot car.

Hiram police chief Todd Vandezande said officers responded on Saturday after witnesses said the young boys were inside a car, sweating profusely and in obvious distress.

Mr Vandezande said officers got one child to unlock the door. The outside temperature at the time was about 31C and inside the car it was closer to 39C.

Police said the children's mother, 39-year-old Loleatha Stallworth, of Powder Springs, came out of a shop 10 minutes later.

Officers arrested her on charges including cruelty to children..

The children, a two-year-old and four-year-old twins, were released to their father.

Hiram is about 25 miles north-west of Atlanta.

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