Charity worker Wayne Jackson, 35, may face prosecution after he left his daughter Chloe at Holbeck police station in Leeds on Saturday evening, telling officers he could not look after her because he was going on holiday to Spain.

The BBC's Richard Wells: "An investigation is now underway"

Mr Jackson, who runs Majestic Cancer Care in Meanwood, Leeds, had been looking after his daughter while her mother, from whom he is separated, was at work.

Chloe's mother, Gayle Atha, 24, who has been reunited with her baby, said she is to consult her solicitor over the incident.

"I can't believe he would dump his own daughter at a police station. I thought he cared about her but it seems he only cares about himself. I never want to see him again," she said.

Mr Jackson left Chloe at the police station with the telephone number of her grandmother, before heading for Spain with his wife and two other children, aged seven and two.

'Acted shamefully'

The child's grandmother, Janet Atha, was horrified

Miss Atha, who lives in Rothwell, Leeds, said she had met Mr Jackson while doing voluntary work for the cancer charity he ran.

They had begun a relationship but had split up when she became pregnant.

"He was always unreliable but I thought he actually cared about Chloe. Sadly I was wrong," she said.

Gayle Atha and Chloe: "I thought he loved her"

She said her mother, Janet, 46, usually looked after Chloe on Saturdays while she worked at a local hairdressers.

This had not been possible at the weekend because her mother was unwell after undergoing an operation.

Mrs Atha said she received a telephone call from Mr Jackson at about 1830BST on Saturday asking if she could take the baby off his hands.

"I told him I couldn't because I was too ill. And the next thing I knew I had the police on the phone saying Chloe had been left at Holbeck.

"I think he has acted shamefully and if I have my way he will never see Chloe ever again."

Police investigation

A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said an investigation was under way but it was unclear whether a crime had been committed.

"We can confirm that a 35-year-old man took his 18-month-old daughter in Holbeck police station where he abandoned her, saying he was going on holiday.

"The girl was reunited with her grandparents within an hour. Social Services and the police child protection unit are now looking at the case to determine whether any crime has been committed."

Janet Atha : He acted shamefully

A spokesman for Leeds Social Services said: "We are aware of this incident and are currently in the process of gathering more information about it.

"We cannot comment further until this process is completed and we have decided upon the most appropriate course of action."

Mr Jackson, who lives in Halton, Leeds, was believed to be on holiday in Ibiza.

Neighbours said he had gone with his wife and two children to celebrate their wedding anniversary and was not expected back in the country for at least a week.

A spokesman for Majestic Cancer Care said they had no comment.