CCTV photographs seize the terrifying second a toddler ran down a busy excessive road.

James, 3, escaped from the playground at Elmhurst House Day Nursery in Stone, Staffordshire via a damaged fence publish.

He then shocked drivers after strolling throughout a highway stuffed with automobiles, earlier than heading off down one other road.

Video footage confirmed the adventurous toddler standing in the course of a crossing on the A520 for 23 seconds earlier than working additional into the city.

Staff from the nursery ultimately caught up with him and introduced him again to security.

However, his mother and father criticised the nursery for failing in its obligation of care and have since eliminated James from the kindergarten.

His mum Fiona Maguire, 46, who has two different youngsters, instructed the Stoke Sentinel: "He was standing there in the road for ages.

"There had been failures within the care and safeguarding of my son, and this might simply have led to essentially the most appalling tragedy."

She revealed the the nursery had failed to contact them at the time and that the family had been left in an "absolute blind panic".

Elmhurst House said in a statement that they have launched an immediate investigation into the incident and have taken urgent steps to tighten security.

The nursery said its staff were "shocked and distressed" at what had happened, adding: "We regard this occasion as our accountability and our failure.

"It should never be possible for a child to escape in this way, whatever the circumstances."

The subsequent day after the incident on May 16, officers from Ousted visited the kindergarten.

They ordered an overhaul of welfare measures on the nursery, together with enhancements to threat assessments and staffing ratios.

Ofsted mentioned it might proceed to observe the nursery to make sure it carried out all of its suggestions.

In a follow-up go to on June sixth, Ofsted inspectors mentioned employees confirmed a "clearer understanding of the role they play", because of actions taken by the administration.

Ofsted mentioned in a press release the brand new measures ought to guarantee "children can be kept safe from harm".

They added: "We are satisfied the provider has met the safeguarding and welfare actions raised."

Staffordshire County Council mentioned it had liaised with Ofsted in response to the "very upsetting incident", whereas Staffordshire Police left the inquiry to Ofsted.

The pressure mentioned this afternoon: "We received a report on 24 May 2023 about a three-year-old boy who had gone missing from a nursery in Stone on 16 May.

"Officers carried out enquiries and left the inquiry within the care of the regulator Ofsted."