Mother and child reunion

12:04pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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A MUM has praised staff at Marks and Spencer Gemini for rescuing her two-year-old daughter after she became trapped in a hot car.

Claire O'Brien, of Goldcliff Close, in Callands, had been shopping at the store on Wednesday afternoon with her little girl, Eve.

However, when she returned to her Volkswagen Golf GTI, which had been standing in the midday sun, she accidentally locked her daughter inside.

She said: "I had the car keys in my mouth as I was strapping her in, and I must have dropped them on the seat and shut the door!

"I did panic, as any mum would, I suppose.

"As she was strapped in the car seat, she was unable to get herself free and became quite frightened.

"I think it was just an adventure for her. She was a bit scared with so many people around but she was fine when she got out."

The store manager, shop assistants and security guards, along with a passer-by, tried to get into the worried parent's car.

But after 15 minutes, they were forced to smash the front passenger window.

Claire said: "The Marks and Spencer staff were absolutely fantastic, they were just great.

"The staff then gave my daughter and I food and drink, removed all the broken glass from my car, rang Autoglass to repair the window, and drove my car home for me.

"I would also like to thank the gentleman passing by, who I asked initially to help me.

It was this man who alerted the staff and helped us all until my daughter was freed."