Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Video Credit: CEN

This is the distressing moment a crying eight-year-old girl screams to neighbours for help from her mother who is standing with a belt in her hand.

The mum has since been handed a restraining order against her own child.

The incident took place in Rosario, in the northern Argentine province of Santa Fe, and was reported by a neighbour who was upset at the situation and decided to record it.

In the video, the girl, whose name has not been reported, can be seen crying with her hand through the fence.

Her mother, who is on crutches, is standing at the door with a belt in her hand and the crying girl can be heard saying “help, I want to get out!”.Local media report the neighbours reported the case to the local police.

One of the neighbours, who has not been named, told reporters: “She was going to school with all her face marked by a belt but she did not want to tell anyone about it as she was scared of the consequences”.

Reports state the mother was arrested but later released as she has an 18-month-old son to look after.

The neighbour said: “They are siblings: she is eight, and the other one is 18 months old but she (the mother) always beats her up. She beats her and throws her to the ground.”

The mother has reportedly been given a restraining order and her daughter is no longer in her care. The investigation is ongoing.

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