Today sees the start of the Child Safety Week 2009, which runs from the 22nd to 28th June, aimed at raising awareness of the number of children killed or seriously injured in accidents, and how many could be avoided.

Last years Child Safety Week reached four million people locally through activities big and small.

The aim is to engage anyone who works with families or children to help make them aware of possible dangers and hopefully prevent them happening.

Sir Alex Ferguson is backing this year’s campaign after his grandson was seriously injured in a car accident earlier this year.

The 10-year-old child had slipped the car seatbelt of his shoulder which it is believed caused him to suffer more serious injuries in the car accident.

Estimates by the AA are that up to two thirds of child car seats may not be fitted correctly increasing the risk of serious injury significantly if the vehicle is involved in a road accident.