CHILDREN across York and North Yorkshire were this week at the centre of a safety campaign as agencies across the county joined forces to educate parents.

Child car seat checks were being offered in a number of locations, with the latest taking place today outside Safeway in James Street, Selby between 11am and 3pm.

North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council and Selby and York Primary Care Trust are promoting the message that "accidents happen in seconds, but the results can last a lifetime" as part of national Child Safety Week, which runs until Sunday.

In the UK over the next year, about 400 children and young people will be killed in accidents, compared to 60 deaths from family abuse, 20 killings by strangers and 115 deaths from meningitis.

One in four of all deaths of ten to 14-year-olds will be the result of a road accident, according to figures from the Child Accident Prevention Trust.

Pictured here are Karl Parkinson and his daughter Caitlin, aged seven months, as Sheelagh Phillips, North Yorkshire County Council road safety assistant, checks out their car seat at the safety event in Pickering.

After today's event in Selby the team will transfer to York on Sunday, at Asda supermarket at Monks Cross, York, between 11am and 3pm.

As well as offering free child car seat checks, PCT health visitors will be on hand to provide information and offer advice on a range of issues around child safety.

Updated: 08:40 Wednesday, June 25, 2003