POLICE are investigating reports of a baby being “neglected” in a Hampshire supermarket.

It comes after worried shoppers raised the alarm claiming the infant was being “manhandled” at Asda.

The incident took place in the McDonalds restaurant area of the supermarket in Totton.

Customers in the store initially called the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

The child welfare charity then called in Hampshire police.

One witness who claimed to see the incident said on social networking site that it was “absolutely” shocking.

She added that she believed the baby is six to eight weeks old and it appeared the baby was with a female relative and was being shouted at and “manhandled"

The witness then said the woman “practically threw” the baby into its carrier which resulted in it hitting its head on the way in.

It is claimed she then ignored the baby's cries to eat a burger.

A statement from Hampshire police, said: “We received a report from the NSPCC after they were contacted by a member of the public who witnessed what she regarded as a woman neglecting a baby in McDonalds in Asda, Totton on February 23.

“The matter is being looked in to.”

A spokesman for Asda was this morning unavailable for comment.