WORRIED passers-by alerted police after they saw a drunken woman walking through a town centre at 10.30pm pushing a pram containing an 11-month-old baby.

Blackburn magistrates heard Kayleigh Vickers was screaming that she was going to kill herself.

When police in Nelson eventually caught up with her they discovered the baby was only wearing a nappy.

Vickers, 26, of Moorland Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a child. She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £22 victim surcharge.

Adam Bonney, prosecuting, said the police received several calls from concerned members of the public on Wednesday night.

They attended but Vickers was no longer there but an earlier caller got back in touch and said she was a 15-minute walk away on the Asda car park.

"Because it was so hot on Wednesday night the officers did not feel there was any problem with the child not having any clothes on," said Mr Bonney.

"She was, however, clearly drunk and was arrested for being drunk in charge of the child."

Richard Prew, defending, said his client accepted she was very emotional on the night but said she was not paralytic drunk.

"The child was being looked after and didn't have any clothes on because Wednesday was probably the hottest night of the year," said Mr Prew.

"I have no idea why the police have kept her in custody for 36 hours."