Stores sell out of child seats as new law is introduced

PARENTS have been frantically buying child safety seats to comply with new regulations, sparking stock shortages across Lancashire.

All children under the age of 12 or under four feet five inches tall are now required to sit in a child safety or booster seat.

Even before the new law came into force 12 days ago stores were struggling to keep up with demand, with Accrington's Argos store selling out over the weekend.

Store deputy manager Chris Davies said: "We can't get enough of the seats especially the cheaper booster seats.

"We sold out over the weekend and our delivery of 50 on the Monday then sold out again within three hours.

"Parents seem to be aware of the new regulations but there have been shortages nationwide. In the run-up to the law coming into force, all stores across the country were out of stock for three weeks."

Parents waiting to collect their children from Hyndburn Park Primary School on the day the law came into force said they knew about the new regulations because a letter had been sent home from the school but many parents still hadn't got the seats.

Debbie Creasey, of Worston Close, Accrington, who has already got seats for her daughters Beth, 10, and Tiffany, nine, said: "A lot of parents either don't know about the law or have struggled to get hold of seats as everywhere's sold out.

"I think the police could have a field day if they stopped cars."

Parents and drivers of children under 12 could face on-the-spot fines of £30 or fines of up to £500 in court if they don't comply with the law.

Sergeant Stuart Isherwood, of Accrington's Road Policing unit, said: "We are busy acting as an advisory service to parents and people transporting children and we are being flexible, allowing drivers a bit of time to comply with the law before we start enforcing it.

"This law is a safety measure. Children under four feet five wearing an adult seat belt risk serious injury in an accident.

"By making children more secure and raising their height on the seat, the belts fit better on their bodies instead of round their necks."