A WOMAN who contacted social services after finding a young mother and baby living in squalid conditions found herself being quizzed by police on suspicion of breaking and entering the property.

The woman, who has asked not to be named, went to the flat in Bournemouth at the request of a friend and neighbour who had heard the girl and her boyfriend having a row in the middle of the night.

"The door had been kicked in and by about 11 o'clock the next morning, neither the mother, her baby or her dog had been heard. The curtains had not been drawn back, the front door was swinging open, and we were both concerned for their well-being," she explained.

"I rang the doorbell, knocked, and then shouted several times while entering the corridor. My friend couldn't go in because of the smell.

"Inside there were wet nappies, bags of dog faeces and flies, but apparently no people. When I went into the sitting room, the puppy was fastened to the back of the door.

"There was a duvet on the bare floorboards and more wet nappies. I shouted back to my friend at the door: There's nobody in', at which the mother and baby appeared from under the duvet."

The woman telephoned social services to report her concerns about the baby's welfare, but when she said she had been into the flat, she was told: "You have committed breaking and entering."

She told the Daily Echo: "I couldn't believe my ears. I just hung up. I was nearly crying because I was so angry."

About an hour later, she phoned home just as the police were knocking on her door. She spoke to them on the telephone and was questioned about her visit to the flat.

A police spokesman confirmed that they had visited the woman's home, but were satisfied that no criminal offence had taken place. Officers had also seen the complainant, who had been given some advice.

A spokeswoman for Bournemouth Social Services claimed the woman had been thanked for her call, which had been followed up with an investigation. "We would urge anybody who has concerns over the safety of children to report it to us, or to the police," she said.