STAFF and customers were stunned when a desperate mum abandoned her baby in a Basingstoke pub with a note attached to its pram begging regulars to take care of her child.

The drama unfolded in The Beacon pub in King's Road, South Ham, on Tuesday night as people were enjoying an evening drink.

Landlady Shani Rogers told The Gazette the mum was in the pub talking to customers for some time.

It was around 9pm that the distressed woman suddenly left without her one-year-old daughter after telling regulars that she felt suicidal.

"The baby's mother was very tearful and very low when she came into the pub," said Mrs Rogers.

She added: "I was upstairs later when my barmaid called me to say a baby had been left in the pub with a note attached to the pram which read 'Tell my daughter I love her. Please look after her. I'm sorry'."

Kathleen Crampton, 70, who made the shocking discovery that the baby had been left behind in the bar, said: "I could not believe what had happened. I thought the lady would come back but she didn't."

Mrs Rogers - who called the police to the pub - described the baby girl as "beautiful".

She added: "She was really well looked-after and had a pretty little pink dress on. She looked immaculate. I've seen the woman with the baby before and she idolises it."

Police officers were quickly on the scene and within an hour traced the mother, who is in her 30s, to an address nearby, believed to be the home of a friend.

Hampshire Constabulary media services officer Claire Vranch said the woman, who lives in the Basingstoke area, was arrested under the Mental Health Act and is now receiving treatment voluntarily at a local hospital.

She confirmed that the mum has not been charged with any offence.

The baby - who slept peacefully throughout the drama - was taken by paramedics to Basingstoke hospital for health checks, and was then taken into the care of social services.

Mrs Rogers said: "This has really upset me and everybody at the pub. It's all they are talking about.

"I didn't sleep on Tuesday night because I was worrying about the baby, but at least she's safe."