Sports Direct baby birth: Police investigate 'unusual circumstances'

Sports Direct has about 400 stores across the UK

Police are investigating the "unusual circumstances" of the birth of a baby at a sports retail warehouse.

The boy is seriously ill after being born at the Sports Direct distribution centre in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, late on 1 January.

Both the mother and her baby were taken to hospital for treatment.

A spokesperson for Sports Direct declined to comment because of the police investigation and would not confirm if the mother was an employee.

'Serious but stable'

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police said: "The baby was taken to a neonatal unit where he remains.

"The baby is in a serious but stable condition. The mother, a woman in her 20s, was also taken to hospital for treatment.

"Officers are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the birth."

Police were called by the ambulance service at around 23:15 GMT on 1 January to report the birth of the baby.

A spokesperson said he was born in "unusual circumstances" but would not give more details.

Sports Direct has about 400 stores across the UK and describes itself as "the UK's leading sports retailer by revenue and operating profit".

It was founded by Mike Ashley, the billionaire owner of Newcastle United.