Canterbury Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd:

About 10pm on Tuesday 9 July, emergency services were called to a smoke alarm sounding at a Eureka Street property in Aranui. Inside, firefighters found two young children who had been left alone at the property.

Fortunately they were rescued from the address before a fire started and were unharmed.

Police would like to thank the neighbours to the property who called for help and prevented a tragic outcome.

Yesterday morning a 35-year-old was taken into custody on two charges of ill-treatment of a child, resisting Police, and possession of a cannabis plant.

She is due to reappear in the Christchurch District Court on 31 July.

As the case is before the court, Police are unable to comment further.

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