A Montacute woman is on the warpath, claiming police left her daughter with a 'stranger' when the childminder became unavailable.

Sharon Masters had her one-year-old daughter Amy picked up by the registered childminder last Thursday (December 13th) at around 8.40am.

When the childminder and Amy got to Yeovil some 20 minutes later, the police was there, wishing to interview the former.

The childminder tried to call Ms Masters to explain the situation, but was unable to get through. According to Ms Masters, the childminder then told police she had to stay with Amy or have her taken to Montacute as Amy was her responsibility.

After some arguing, it was decided to take Amy to another registered childminder. Police is said to have offered a lift but refused the childminder permission to bring Amy's special car seat into the cruiser.

"They told her to hold Amy and strap herself in, so the childminder decided to walk instead," Ms Masters said.

It wasn't until about two hours later that Ms Masters was told that her daughter was in the care of another childminder. "She was in quite a state when I got there. I don't understand why the police couldn't have brought her to my workplace instead of leaving her with someone she didn't know. Montacute is not far away," she said.

An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesperson confirmed police had been at the scene, but disagreed with the claims made.

The child seat for the car was never an issue from the moment it emerged that the alternative childminder lived only 200 yards away, with both parties agreeing it would be easier to walk.

The police spokesperson stressed that numerous attempts were made to contact Ms Masters over the phone. He said it was the childminder's suggestion to use the nearby childminder as a temporary measure whilst renewed attempts were made to contact Ms Masters.

"She agreed immediately to look after Amy and it seemed the most efficient way of dealing with it," the spokesperson added.

Things have now returned to normal. Ms Masters is using the same childminder, saying the business with the police was of a nature that doesn't worry her and has in no way removed her confidence in the childminder.