WHILST refuelling my car at a garage in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, on Friday, June 22, a car approached with loud sounds coming from it that could be heard 200 meters away.

As it entered the forecourt I saw that it contained three persons, two adults and a child of about two or three years of age.

The driver's side window was open, but before the driver got out it was closed.

As they opened the doors of the car, the so-called music blared out so loud that it hurt my ears and I am in my seventies.

Both adults then vacated the car to enter the Spar shop leaving the little boy strapped in the rear seat.

The doors of the car had been slammed shut with the noise continuing.

The look on the child's face was one of the saddest I have ever seen, not because Mummy and Daddy had left him in the car but because the dreadful sound was hurting his tiny ears.

He was hunched over with his hand over his ears.

By the time this unfortunate child is old enough to go to school he may well be deaf, or at the very least his hearing will be impaired.

He will then be stigmatised and accused of having learning difficulties until someone realised he has hearing problems.

His real problem is his parents. I have a radio in my car but if I remove the key the radio is turned off, so why did they leave the keys in their car?

It takes less than a minute for some other moron to come along and steal the car, kid in the back or not.

It is of no concern to the opportunist thief.

Leaving a child in such jeopardy is abuse and should be punishable.

If this letter is printed, I hope it is read by the parents of that poor child and they realise that I am writing it to them and that they become concerned and more thoughtful in future.

But I won't hold my breath.

R HARVEY-MORGAN, Barnes Avenue, Rawtenstall.