Police were called to a report of concern for welfare after a 'child' was spotted in the back of a car.  

Believing a child to be in serious danger, as they were not moving, a concerned member of the public raised the alarm and called police to a car park in Lytchett Matravers shortly before 10am on Monday, August 7. 

Officers dashed to investigate only to find, rather bizarelly, a child-sized mannequin lying on the back seat. 

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "We received a report of a concern for welfare.

"A member of the public was reporting that a child in the back of a car in a car park in Lytchett Matravers was not moving.

"Officers attended and it was established that it was actually a child-sized mannequin.

"The report was made in good faith and we will always investigate reports of this nature and ascertain whether there is a genuine risk to respond to."