AROUND 40 per cent of child car seats in Bournemouth were incorrectly fitted or incompatible with the child or car when checked by safety experts.

Dorset Road Safe has been holding one-day car seat check events quarterly throughout the year at the Littledown Leisure Centre in Bournemouth.

The event helps drivers ensure that their child car seats are fitted safely and correctly in the vehicle and that the child is seated correctly in their child restraint.

However, data collected by Dorset Road Safe shows of the 162 checks made this year, 66 car seats were incorrectly fitted and four were incompatible with the child or car.

This is an improvement on last year's figures, which revealed 70 per cent of car seats were incorrectly fitted when checked.

Evidence from the events has also shown that some children are being moved into the next car restraint too soon.

For advice, visit www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk