Two-year-old Callum Kelly came within feet of running on to a busy main road after he slipped through a gap in a playground fence, writes Suzanne Huband.

Callum's lucky escape prompted immediate action by Witney Town Council to improve the fencing and prevent any other youngsters getting into danger.

The railing fence was put up recently around play equipment on Wood Green, which is between the A4095 Witney to Bladon road and New Yatt Road.

Helen Kelly lives nearby in Taphouse Avenue with Callum and her other two children, Lewis, aged three, and Ben, aged five. She said: "I was there with Ben and Callum and a friend and her children. Callum came down the slide and ran straight through this gap in the fence. It was small enough for him to get through, but I couldn't.

"Luckily, my friend Lisa Calcutt was closer to the gate and chased after him and caught him within two steps of the road," she said.

Town council technical officer Henry Westbury, said the new fence abutted an existing one around Holy Trinity Church. This had caused a small gap at either end. "Immediately Mrs Kelly rang up I designed two end filling pieces, which our men welded, painted and fitted straight away. They did a good job," he said.