CHILD Safety Week began in earnest yesterday with a graphic demonstration of the aftermath of a car accident.

Firefighters were in St Sampson's Square, York, to show how they cut people from the wreckage of crashed cars - and in particular what happens when child car seats are defective.

The Safer York Partnership has launched a Child Safety Seat campaign to urge parents to check out the quality, suitability and safety of child car seats.

The focus on child seat safety is an initiative by City of York Council road safety department, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Safer York Partnership.

Graham Buckle, group manager for the fire service, said: "It is always very sad when we deal with an incident when a child is injured as a result of defective child seats.

"It is also very difficult for the parents, knowing that the death or injury was entirely avoidable."

Safer York Partnership director Jane Mowat said: " This is an important aspect of community safety and is something which can be easily remedied. Motorists have a duty to ensure that babies and young passengers are travelling safely."