AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a toddler walked out of a nursery and headed home on his own across a housing estate.

Three-year-old Dylan Scott walked out of Parkside Nursery, in Skerne Park, Darlington, walked more than 240 metres, crossing a main road, before heading down a narrow alley next to a pub before he was found crying, but unhurt, by his mother’s neighbour.

Staff at the Coleridge Centre, where the nursery is based, had no idea the boy was missing until his mother, Anatillia Hill, 26, turned up to collect him at the usual pickup time of 4pm on Monday.

Her son’s hours at the Sure Start nursery have now been cut, which she feels is unfair.

The mother-of-three recalled the moment she realised her son was missing: She said: “I had a gut feeling something wasn’t right.

Normally, I would go in the door and he would come and run to me, but when I got there there was no sign of him.

“The staff said ‘he’s probably in the toilet’ so I looked, but he wasn’t there. I started panicking, I felt sick and faint with worry.”

She added: “Obviously, the nursery staff were very apologetic, but what would have happened if my son had been injured or killed by a vehicle or even kidnapped? An apology would never replace my son.”

A statement issued by Parkside Childcare, which manages the nursery – based in the same centre as Skerne Park Primary School - said: “A situation occurred on Monday which is being taken extremely seriously.

“A review of security took place immediately and actions were put in place to prevent the situation occurring again. A full investigation is taking place and Ofsted have been informed.

"Parkside Childcare has an exemplary record and has been successfully delivering childcare since March 2004, with no previous incidents.

“The situation is being resolved with the parents and they recognise that the nursery has made a big difference to their child’s life.

“The child is continuing to attend the nursery, he loves coming and has made many friends.”