A thief in the UK stole a car with a baby still in the rear seat before returning a few minutes later with the child.

The baby's mother had left three children in her unlocked Renault Scenic while she made a delivery in Tiverton in Devon at 11.55am on Saturday.

Her daughter stood outside the vehicle and the woman's five-year-old nephew and 14-month-old son remained in the back.

But as they waited for the mother to return, a thief opened the rear door of the car and pulled the nephew out.

The man, in his 40s, then drove the vehicle through a series of one-way streets before returning to the original location, Kings Street.

He removed the child seat with the boy and dumped it on the pavement - telling passers-by that someone had abandoned a baby.

The suspect jumped back into the car and drove off.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said the vehicle had not been found.

He said: "The vehicle was in collision with a bollard at St Pauls Close, causing significant damage but the suspect continued to drive.

"Police units and a helicopter were called out but despite substantial searches of the area, the vehicle has not been found.

Police are still searching for the car.