POLICE and social services are investigating after a five-month-old baby suffered 40 per cent burns from being left in the sun on one of the hottest days of the year.

The boy spent two days in hospital after police community support officers (PCSOs) intervened during a patrol along Brighton beach.

Paramedics had initially thought he suffered 20 per cent burns, but it is believed the sunburn continued to develop.

He was discharged from the Royal Sussex County Hospital on Tuesday night after being taken there by ambulance on Sunday afternoon as temperatures reached 25C (77F).

The baby was visiting the south coast resort from Plumstead with his 29-year-old mother.

Burns specialist Baljit Dheansa, from The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, was called to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to treat the boy on Sunday afternoon.

He said the baby’s skin was already showing signs of blistering, which could lead to a loss of bodily fluids.

He said: “In a five-month-old baby, this could ultimately lead to risks of dehydration, low blood pressure and kidney failure.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "The case of a five-month-old baby sunburnt on Brighton beach is being jointly investigated with Sussex Police and social services in Brighton and the London borough where the child lives.

"No arrests have been made at this stage and the baby is doing fine."

Witness Sarah Bevis, 24, said she saw other people on the beach shouting at the baby's mother.

She said: "She had covered the baby up with a blanket as a group of women were arguing with her about the baby's burns. I couldn't see the baby myself as it was hidden.

"It looked like she was just going to stay on the beach with it covered up even though they were saying it needed medical treatment.

"I think one of the other women then called the police to report it."