LONDON (AFP) - British police arrested a man on suspicion of child neglect after reports of a person trying to sell a baby in a shopping arcade on Sunday.

Police in Manchester, northwest England, launched a search after a member of the public reported he was approached by a man who offered to sell him a three-month-old baby.

"Man has been offering to sell baby in city centre," Greater Manchester Police wrote on Twitter, sharing an image of a man in jeans standing outside a betting shop with a baby in a pram.

"This is extremely unusual and at this time we are trying to establish the full circumstances of the situation, but most importantly check on the welfare of the child," Sergeant David Henshall said.

Later, police announced that the baby boy was safe, and that a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

"We would like to thank members of the public and the media for their assistance in publicising the appeal earlier today," said Detective Inspector Liam Boden.

"We have now arrested a man on suspicion of child neglect and will be questioning him in relation to the incident as we try to establish the full circumstances."