Police have charged the parents of two young girls left home alone at Nelson Bay.
Officers were called to Government Road at about 1.45am on Sunday after a passerby found a 4-year-old girl walking along the road by herself.
She was able to point out where she lived and officers searched a unit, finding a 2 year-old girl asleep in a cot in the empty apartment.
Officers contacted the parents who returned to the unit and spoke with investigators.
It is alleged that during a search of the woman’s handbag, officers located cannabis and white powder believed to be methylamphetamine.
The girls, aged 4 and 2 were removed from their parents’ custody and a Family and Community Services notification was made.
Officers have now charged the parents with abandon/expose child under 7 cause danger serious injury, and possess prohibited drug.
They are expected to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 27 November 2017.
Inquiries continue.
