POLICE have issued a warning to drivers and parents after a young child escaped from a front garden.

Cleveland Police say the child could have been seriously injured or killed in the incident on Wednesday.

PCSO Errington, from Coulby Newham and South Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Police, said: "Whilst on patrols yesterday officers witnessed what could have been a potentially fatal near miss involving a young child that had gotten out of a front garden.

"Whilst the child tried to see if it was safe to cross the road he was crossing behind large vehicle parked on a bend.

"It was pure luck that this child was not seriously injured as he would have been hit moments earlier or later, giving the driver no chance to brake."

He added: "Parents please ensure that your young children are supervised at all times and do not leave them alone in any garden which they can escape from and get out onto a road."

The officer also urged drivers to take extra caution when driving through built up areas where children could be outside enjoying the sunshine.

"You can never tell when a child may run into the road from behind a parked vehicle," he added.