We use them to carry our most precious possessions - but few people realise how unsafe they can be. Prams and pushchairs, taken for granted as a safe method of carrying our kids, are responsible for 13,000 injuries to children and adults a year.

The alarming figures, published recently by the Home Accidents Surveillance System, have prompted trading standards officers in Oxfordshire to take action.

With the help of the health authority, they organised free pram and pushchair tests at four family and health centres across the county - and were shocked by their findings.

More than half of the 55 pushchairs they tested failed to meet basic British Standards requirements, with many having potentially dangerous defects. Anu Prashar, Oxfordshire's principal trading standards officer, said: "It was quite shocking. You are carrying your most precious possession in a pushchair, but you would not even think of getting in a car with similar sorts of faults. We felt we had to bring this to the attention of the public."

The most common defect was faulty brakes, which were tested by standing pushchairs on a slope with a 'dummy' baby inside.

"Quite a few pushchairs slid or rolled down the slope," said Miss Prashar. "Others even spun round in circles because the brakes only worked on one wheel."

She added: "Some parents said they were aware of the problem and always held on. But if you did lose your grip on a hill, who knows what could happen to your baby?"

Other faults included:

Insecure harnesses

Faulty locking devices which could cause a child to be squashed while sitting in a pushchair

Wobbly wheels

Sharp edges on screws and bolts. Trading standards officers say most problems are caused by parents using old or secondhand pushchairs which have become worn - but they recognise that, at £80 for an average pushchair, many people cannot afford to buy new.

"Lots of pushchairs are handed down through families or bought from car boot sales and that sort of thing," said Miss Prashar.

"You do not usually know what sort of load they have had to carry or how much use they have had and there are often no instructions. You have got to bear in mind that they are not likely to comply with British Standards, and it is best to make your own checks."

Officers have now produced a checklist of safety measures for parents to use, which aims to ensure secondhand pushchairs are as close to the British Standard as possible.

The trading standards department is also urging people to contact them if they buy a pushchair which they consider dangerous.

"We can give recommendations, but it is up to parents to take responsibility if we are going to reduce the number of accidents," said Miss Prashar. Golden rules for pram and pushchair service

Do not overload - no extra passengers.

Check the brakes work properly, especially on a slope.

Don't hang shopping from handles.

Keep the manufacturers instructions and follow them.

Make sure the safety harness is not frayed or damaged and the buckle is secure.

Ensure that there are no sharp edges, points or finger traps.

Check the pram or pushchair is made to a British Standard, it should be labelled.

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