Free checks are on offer for parents worried about their child's car seat.

Oxfordshire County Council, together with Thames Valley Police, Cherwell District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, has arranged a series of free checks as part of Child Safety Week.

Parents will be able to have their existing seat checked to ensure that it is fitted correctly, and ask for advice if they are thinking of buying a new seat.

The county council's principal road safety officer, Ian Harris, said: "In previous checks we have found that up to four out of five seats are incorrectly fitted.

"There are about 120 different seats on the market and none of them can be guaranteed to fit every make of car. It's not surprising that people are confused.

"Last year we launched a new scheme called 'Sitting Tight' where garages and other outlets offer ongoing free checks and advice to the public, and feedback has confirmed that there is still a lot of confusion about the correct use and fitting of child car seats."

County road safety officer Julie Jones said: "I hope we will be able to help many parents and, as a result, reduce the risk of injury to children travelling in cars.

"If anyone is not able to visit one of the sites they can contact me on 01865 815657 for an up-to-date list of 'sitting tight' members."

Checks are being held at:

*Tesco car park at the Oxford Retail Park, Cowley, today between 9.30am and 12pm

*Sainsbury's in Kidlington today between 1pm and 3.30pm

*Sainsbury's in Station Road, Witney, between 9.30am and 12pm tomorrow.