THIS is the chilling moment a wild-eyed woman dumps a helpless two-year-old on a stranger’s doorstep before running away.

Police have launched a manhunt to find the unknown woman after the owner of the house opened her door to see a little boy standing there.

In the CCTV footage taken from the front door, a woman with a large grin on her face is seen running up to the door with the child in one hand and a bag in the other.

She appears to ring the doorbell and then frantically knock twice as the little boy stands next to her.

The woman then turns around and sprints away from the door, leaving the child unaccompanied with the bag.

In the next scene the boy watches a white car drive away as he sucks his thumb.

This child was dumped on the stranger’s doorstep in the US town of Montgomery, Texas.

Police have identified the woman in the video and will not release it at this time, but can confirm it is not the mother.

The District Attorney’s office confirmed it was looking at charging the woman with child abandonment, which is a felony charge in the state of Texas.

Lieutenant Scott Spencer said during a press conference this afternoon local time that it emerged the child was dumped next door to his father’s house.

The father, who shares custody of the boy, told police he was expecting his son to be dropped off in the afternoon but after not hearing from the mother he assumed the plans changed and left the house.

The mother reportedly went to hospital in the afternoon and may have left her son with the woman who is said to be a family friend.

The woman in the video had knocked on multiple doors on the street with the child including the father’s door, who did not answer because he was not home, police confirmed.

It is unclear if the mother will face charges because she was reportedly in the hospital when her child was left on a stranger’s doorstep.

Lt Scott said as a father he was horrified when he saw the footage.

He added: “I was gut-wrenched.

“It was very alarming and very disturbing and my heart was hurting for that child.”

The child is uninjured and appears to be in good health, according to police.

Child Protective Services have taken custody of the child and police are currently working on reuniting him with the father.