A thug punched a five-day-old baby in the head at a Tesco supermarket - as a proud mum showed off the newborn to pals.

Police are now investigating the horror incident at the supermarket branch in Baguley, Wythenshawe on Monday evening.

Little Elsie Rose, who weighs just 6lbs 12oz, was raced to hospital by ambulance, although she is not believed to have been seriously injured.

Her mum Amy Duckers said the attack happened right in front of her other seven-year-old daughter Libby, who reacted with horror believing the thug had killed her baby sister.

Amy told the M.E.N: “I’m absolutely broken and torn apart. I can’t believe what me and my daughter had to see last night it was just so horrific. I never ever want anyone to have to go through that again.

“We all heard the punch land on my little baby. We didn’t react at first as we were just so shocked. Then I just screamed.

“He could easily have killed her.”

It had been the first time Amy and partner Lewis Temple, 24, had taken Elsie Rose out after giving birth, and the family had nipped into Tesco to do a quick shop.

While they were in the store, they saw a neighbour who came over to look at the baby.

“Our neighbour then saw one of her work colleagues who was with her husband and said ‘aww come and have a look at this lovely baby’, and the next thing he ran over and punched Elsie Rose in the face leaving a very big fist mark shape across her forehead.

“We were mortified, my daughter was screaming thinking he had killed the baby.

“He then just apologised and said ‘sorry I thought it was a doll!”

The family quickly alerted security at the supermarket and Elsie Rose was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital where she was monitored overnight before being allowed home today.

Amy, a full-time mum, who lives in Brooklands, added: “She was quite sickly and sleepy last night but at least she is home now.

“I just can not believe it happened and neither can anyone I tell. Strangers were even hugging me at the hospital when I told them about it.

“It has really put me off taking her out again though.”

Amy posted the traumatic experience on Facebook, praising staff at Tesco for the way they handled the situation.

She wrote: “Thank you so much to Baguley Tesco for all you did tonight [Monday] you were all amazing thank you so much for the way you dealt with the situation and treated us all.”

GMP said a 63-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.

A spokesman said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a baby.

“Police were called shortly before 6.45pm to a supermarket on Altrincham Road in Baguley on Monday to reports of a child having been hit.

“The baby girl was taken to hospital as a precaution and has since been discharged.

“A 63-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in custody being questioned by officers.”