A Sydney mother has been accused of leaving her toddler alone in a parked car so she could attend a house auction up the street.
NSW Police say beachgoers at Freshwater spotted the two-year-old sleeping in a black four-wheel drive on Saturday morning.
A surf lifesaver opened the car doors to get some fresh air into the vehicle while another passer-by called for help.
The little boy woke up during the commotion but did not appear to be injured, police say.
When Northern Beaches Local Area Command officers arrived and began a search for the child's parents they didn't have to look far - both mum and dad were allegedly at a house auction about 300 metres away.
The child's mother, 40, has been ordered to appear at Manly Local Court on December 16 to answer a charge of leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, causing emotional distress.
The child's father has not been charged.
And it seems the couple didn't secure a home for their trouble - Ray White real estate agent Ken Snell has told AAP the three-bedroom weatherboard home went to a local family.
