Motorists are making sure their child passengers are as safe as possible, following the launch of a new road safety initiative.

The Sitting Tight scheme aims to reduce the number of injuries to youngsters in traffic accidents, by making sure child safety seats are correctly fitted.

The initiative was launched in Berinsfield yesterday by road safety officers from Oxfordshire County Council. It was set up by the Oxfordshire Accident Prevention Forum as a result of local surveys showing that up to four out of five car seats are badly fitted. The scheme was officially opened at Berinsfield Family Centre by Oxfordshire County councillor Roy Tudor Hughes

Mechanics were on hand to check and fit child seats and to advise parents about safety measures.

The county council's principal road safety officer, Ian Harris, said: "There can be no doubt of the value of child seats in reducing injuries in car crashes.

Fitting a seat can be confusing due to the wide variety of seats on the market combined with the different makes and models of cars.

But parents can now ensure that their child is getting the best possible protection from their seat by visiting a Sitting Tight member." There are 19 Sitting Tight outlets in Oxfordshire most of them garages meaning most people live within five miles of a trained child seat fitter.

For details and lists of members, call the council on 01865 815657.