A FURIOUS mum has taken her three children out of a council-run playscheme after her five-year-old son was allowed to wander off on his own and cross three main roads to get home.

Edna Charnock, 28, thought little Matthew would be safe when she dropped him off at the afternoon playscheme at Audley Community Centre, Blackburn.

But just 40 minutes after she had left him in the care of council staff, he returned home alone to Whitendale Crescent after crossing Audley Range, Pringle Street and Chester Street.

Edna said: "I was absolutely furious. I wasn't supposed to be picking him up until three o'clock, so if he hadn't known his way home he could have been wandering the streets for nearly two hours before I knew he was missing.

"I dread to think what could have happened. "Matthew said somebody had kicked him on the bouncy castle so he decided to go outside. I went to the playscheme and asked the staff what had happened and they said they have 50 other children to look after and they can't watch them all the time, and once they go outside the children aren't their responsibility.

"I just can't believe what has happened. He could have been knocked down or anything."

Now Edna is refusing to let Matthew, his sister Claire Hargreaves and little brother Jesse go back to the playscheme with the rest of their pals.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "The facility at Audley Community Centre is not a play school or playgroup, but a play scheme with open access. Parents are aware of the status of the scheme and sign a form to this effect before allowing their children to join.

"The children remain the responsibility of the council while in the building or on outside activities. But it is made clear that open access means that a child may leave the building without the knowledge of the staff."

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