Campaign warns parents how to safely strap children into car seats this winter

UK law requires all children under 12-year-old (or those below 135cm) travelling in a car to be strapped into a child’s seat

Parents should remove their child's coat before strapping them into child seats (Rex)

Parents should be cautious of bundling their children up against the cold and then strapping them into their car seats this winter, a campaign has warned.

Car seats, designed for children up to 12 years old, can be less effective in a collision if they are not correctly strapped in after removing their coats.

Leaving a child’s jacket on in the seat, although warmer, results in a dangerous gap between the belt and the infant’s body which can result in injury should there be a collision.

To safely strap your child into the seat, adults should leave just enough space to allow two fingers between the seat and the infant’s body, Good Egg Car Safety advises.

Under UK law all children under the age of 12 (or below 135cm in height) travelling in the front or rear seat of any car, van, or goods vehicle, must be strapped into a child’s seat. The law is slightly different for other vehicles such as buses or taxis.