This is the moment a local man on the verge of tears rescues two tortured children who had been tied up, allegedly by their stepdad.

The incident took place in the town of Moreno, in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires, and the stepfather of the children, aged 6 and 9, has been arrested.

Shortly before the arrest, a group of locals broke into the man’s home and threatened violence but they were talked down by the police, according to local media.

Both children reportedly suffered significant violence at the hands of their stepfather, and it is also believed that the mother, who has not been named, was complicit.

The footage shows the six-year-old boy showing the camera the marks on his wrists, that appear to be the result of being tied up. The neighbour, who is filming the boy, can be heard on the point of crying asking him to show the camera his injuries.

His sister was also reportedly hit on the head and in the face. Neither of the siblings has been named.

According to prosecutor Emiliano Buscalia, the stepfather, who has not been named, has been charged with deprivation of liberty and reduction to servitude.

The investigation is currently ongoing. It is currently unclear if the mother has been charged.