THE babysitter of a two-year-old who became locked in a car during the searing heat has spoken of the frantic battle to rescue him.

Katie Smart had taken Oscar to see her friend, Caroline Passey in Northwick Avenue, Worcester, when the incident happened.

She put the toddler in his car seat and shut the door when the doors suddenly locked, with her keys inside.

She called the police and was told to break into the vehicle herself.

"The woman did say to try to keep Oscar as cool as I could by sheltering him from the sun," said the 28-year-old, of Sutton Park, Kidderminster. "Oscar kept saying he was tired and kept drifting off. He was bright red and drenched in sweat.

"I was absolutely hysterical," she added.

"There were no windows open in the car and it was very very hot." In her frantic state Miss Smart did not think to call the fire service, nor did the police suggest doing so.

Mrs Passey, aged 38, said her husband, 41-year-old Chris, tried to open the door using a piece of wire but it would not budge.

A neighbour grabbed a blanket and put it over the windscreen to shield Oscar from the direct sun.

Mr Passey and another neighbour then tried to smash the window, but it would not break.

Finally, they called the AA, which took 50 minutes to arrive on Saturday, April 14.

Oscar was becoming overcome by the lunchtime heat so they also called an ambulance. The AA man finally managed to smash the window and free the toddler, who was trapped for an hour and 10 minutes.

Oscar was checked over at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and has fully recovered from his ordeal.

A spokesman for Worcester police said that it was normal to advise the owner to smash a window.

"It could take an officer a number of minutes to get there to do exactly the same thing, break a window," he said. "The most expedient advice we can offer therefore, is for the vehicle owner to do it themselves."

Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: "We go to these sorts of incidents quite regularly. It's a service that we regard as being a public service."

Mr Mackie said in such circumstances call the AA or RAC, but if all else fails call the fire service.