A German couple forgot their new-born baby in a taxi they returned home in hours after the woman had given birth, international media report.

The incident took place in Hamburg, north Germany.

The couple left the vehicle each thinking that the other partner had the child, but quickly realised that they had left their son on the back seat.

They tried to alert the driver but he had sped away and went to the airport, stopping to have lunch and leaving the unaccompanied child sleeping.

Returning to the car, he saw the baby and alerted the airport’s medical team to make sure that the child was in good health. The police were called and they took the baby home to the parents.