A man has been arrested after he chained his son to a bed, and left him without food and drink for two days, Italian media report.

The incident happened in a small village on the outskirts of Rome.

The 38-year-old father, of Romanian nationality, has been arrested.

The son managed to free himself and went to seek help at a neighbour, who alerted the police.

His father had chained the minor, whose age was not given, after he disobeyed him.

The father will be charged with kidnapping and maltreating a minor.