Inquiry into baby burnt in crèche

Charlotte Francis has injuries on her face

A local authority investigation is under way into how a toddler burnt her face on a radiator pipe while being looked after at a nursery.

Twelve-month-old Charlotte Grace Francis was at the Fairy Tales Crèche in Mountain Ash, in the south Wales Valleys, when she fell, face first, against the pipe.

It was an accident waiting to happen

Karina Francis, mother

She received burns to her forehead, cheek and underneath her nose.

Her parents, Karina and Paul, are now considering taking legal action against the nursery and the local authority.

"It is a privately-run nursery which has had the go-ahead from Rhondda Cynon Taf - they are supposed to check the place out and the proprietor obviously relies on the information given," said Mrs Francis, an accounting supervisor.

"But the onus is on the proprietor - the radiator was covered but not the pipes leading to it.

"The pipes should have been boxed off.

Charlotte is taking antibiotics for the burns

"I am absolutely horrified that this can happen - how can I go back to work now?

"I can't relax unless Charlotte is with me and her injuries are terrible," said Mrs Francis.

The couple, who also have a five-year-old daughter, Emma, have consulted a solicitor about the incident.

"Charlotte is now happy in herself, but she is still on antibiotics to help stop any infection because the injury is so close to her eye," said Mrs Francis.

"But, we won't know about the scarring until the injuries heal.

"We just hope there isn't any permanent damage," Mrs Francis added.

The nursery was fully checked before we opened

Caron Reardon, nursery owner

The owner of the nursery, Caron Reardon, has said she wants the situation sorted out as soon as possible.

"My thoughts are with the child and her family and there is deep regret and apologies that this has happened," said Ms Reardon.

"The nursery was fully checked before we opened and it is a safe environment for the children.

"It was an unforeseeable accident and we hope this matter will be resolved soon.

"I send my apologies to the family," she said.

Ms Reardon told BBC News Online that following the accident, immediate action was taken to box in the pipe work.

Investigation

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has launched an investigation into the incident alongside the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales - which licenses and regulates crèche facilities.

"We acted promptly visiting the crèche the same day and ensured that interim safety measures were taken," said the divisional director for public health and protection, Lester Lewis.

"We have been in touch with the parents, we are in liaison with the inspectorate and will consider further action should that be necessary, when our investigation is complete."