FAMILIES have been urged to take advantage of free checks on child car seats to help cut injuries to youngsters involved in crashes.Checks by Norfolk County Council in 2007 found that 60pc of child seats were fitted incorrectly, contributing to that year's toll of 117 children being injured in car crashes - a rate almost double the national average.

FAMILIES have been urged to take advantage of free checks on child car seats to help cut injuries to youngsters involved in crashes.

Checks by Norfolk County Council in 2007 found that 60pc of child seats were fitted incorrectly, contributing to that year's toll of 117 children being injured in car crashes - a rate almost double the national average.

Last weekend the county council held the first in a series of days when free checks were made by the Fire and Rescue Service and the Casualty Reduction Group at Stalham.

Next month's events will take place at Sprowston Tesco on Saturday, September 12 and at Sainsbury's in North Walsham on Wednesday, September 23.

Richarrd Wiseman, casualty reduction officer, added: “It is now three years since new laws came into force on child seats and restraints in cars, and yet we still find that many parents don't have them fitted properly. “Usually people don't realise they are getting it wrong, and would be mortified if this led to their child being injured in a crash.

“We can make sure they are using the right sort of seat and fitting it correctly. It could be the best few minutes spent this summer or autumn.”