A Rockland mother was arrested and charged with leaving her 7-year-old daughter home alone while she went to work Saturday.

Police say 39-year-old Carolyn Hughes, of Stony Point, left the young girl alone in their North Liberty Drive apartment for six or seven hours while she went to work as a home health aide.

Stony Point police were called to the apartment by a concerned neighbor.

They concede that there is no set age in current state law about what age a child can legally be left home alone. Authorities say there were circumstances in this case that they felt it required criminal charges. They would not elaborate on the circumstances.

Officials say the air conditioning was on in the apartment and that the girl was not harmed.

The child is back in the care of her mother as authorities continue to investigate.