Police are investigating a fox attack on a one-month-old baby boy which left his hand seriously injured.
The animal tore the infant's finger off after dragging him from his cot after entering his bedroom in Bromley, south east London, according to reports.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We were called at 16.38 on Wednesday 6 February by staff at St Thomas's Hospital to reports a baby boy who had been admitted to hospital after being attacked by a fox.
"Police attended to find a four-week-old baby with a hand injury.
"The baby was admitted to hospital after the attack at its home address in Bromley.
"Inquiries continue."
The child's mother was alerted by his screaming and rushed into his room to see his hand lodged "halfway down the animal's throat", the Mail on Sunday said.
Surgeons were able to reattach the baby's finger and he was said to be recovering well.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said the only reason a fox would attack is due to fear.
She added: "It's extremely unusual for foxes to attack young children or anyone.
"It's not typical fox behaviour at all. Foxes will come closer to a house if there are food sources. Then they can become quite bold, but they usually do back off and run away when there's people around."