Parents' child car seat warning

Some 500 children a year are seriously injured travelling in cars

Parents in Berkshire have been invited to a child car seat check-up after a random inspection showed 54% of seats were incorrectly fitted.

The free session has been set up by Bracknell Forest Borough Council to ensure mothers and fathers are not endangering their children's lives.

The move comes after a similar event in May revealed less than half of those attending had correctly fitted seats.

Seats will be inspected at Halfords on Skimped Hill Lane on 25 September.

Endangering offspring

Chris Pickett, Bracknell's road safety officer, said: "At the last check we highlighted that an alarming 54% of seats were incorrectly fitted.

"If a car seat has been fitted incorrectly then it is almost as dangerous in the event of a collision as having no car seat at all.

"Imagine the relief and satisfaction that you will have once you know for sure that your seat has been fitted correctly, at no cost to you, and that your baby/child is sitting safe in their seat."

A survey carried out in May by Mother & Baby magazine suggested eight out of 10 parents were endangering their offspring by failing to fit child car seats properly.

The report also found 11% of parents had not bought seats, while a third of parents take children out of seats to comfort them while travelling.