NORFOLK County Council has warned that child and car seats can be a life-saver in an accident but many are still being fitted incorrectly.Checks by the council in 2007 found 60pc of child seats were not fitted properly.

NORFOLK County Council has warned that child and car seats can be a life-saver in an accident but many are still being fitted incorrectly.

Checks by the council in 2007 found 60pc of child seats were not fitted properly.

This contributed to 117 children being injured in car crashes in that year alone - almost double the national average.

Now, the county council is taking its free seat and child restraint checking service on the road in north Norfolk for the next few weeks, beginning at Tesco in Stalham on Saturday, August 22, between 10am and 3pm.

The checks will be carried out by the county council's Fire and Rescue Service and Casualty Reduction Group.

Richard 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.”

For more information on where the tour will be over the next few weeks, visit the county council website at www.norfolk.gov.uk.