SCORES of parents are gambling with their children's lives every time they turn the key in their car ignition.

A councillor responsible for safety issues is urging parents to check their child car seats after spot inspections in east Cleveland found 70 per cent of more than 300 safety seats were either incorrectly fitted or provided no protection.

"A lot of parents will not be aware that what they are doing is endangering the lives of their children," said Redcar and Cleveland borough councillor Dave McLuckie.

"What they have done is set out to provide what they hope will enhance the safety of their child but, instead, may have purchased something that will likely contribute to death or serious injury.

"I would urge parents to take a lot more care when purchasing car safety seats, and I would not recommend purchasing second- hand safety seats.

"Quite often, the straps are damaged or important parts that are required have not been removed from the original car."

The council recently invited family drivers to take their cars for free child seat checks.

Problem areas found included poor seat belt tensioning, allowing the child seat to move during travel, seats unsuitable for the car, or age and size of the child, and in some cases, no restraint used at all.

Principal trading standards officer Howard Turton said: "If drivers would only imagine the effects of their child passengers hitting the dashboard or windscreen face-first they may take a more responsible approach in the selection and use of appropriate child seats."