OVER the past 10 years, child car seats have probably saved thousands of babies' lives, but children are still being killed and injured in car accidents because they are not restrained properly.

And it's no wonder if recent free safety checks carried out at Hindley Co-op by the council's road safety unit staff, and health visitors are anything to go by.

They found 50 per cent of seats checked were not fitted correctly and had to be adjusted.

But they were more concerned about the negative attitude of people approached.

Unit staff said they were worried by the number of parents who declined to take up advice or offers of checks, and baby minders, like grandparents, who said they weren't interested because they were only caring for the child for the day.

Otherwise, the action was well received by sensible parents.

Mums and dads should realise that the seats must be fitted correctly and in the right vehicle to be effective, and many are not.

A six-point safety plan issued by the unit includes the warning to beware of buying used car seats.

Unfortunately, parents are not heeding this.

I went to a car boot sale on Sunday, a great place for families to sell their unwanted baby paraphernalia, and there were many seats up for grabs - and being bought.

The cheap purchase is likely to be a false economy, because it could prove useless, as well as dangerous, and worse, could kill.

The road safety unit is willing to discuss seat safety issues on 01942 828449.