Mechanics to the rescue of baby girl locked in car near Shrewsbury

Nick Collins and Rob Frances, from Welland Cars in Hereford Road, Bayston Hill, came to the rescue just before lunchtime yesterday.

They were asked to help after the baby, who had been playing with a set of keys inside a VW Passat, managed to deadlock the doors of the vehicle in the village.

Armed with a kit which allows them to access locked cars they tried their best to open the doors. But unfortunately the deadlock mechanism did not allow them to trigger the switches.

Eventually they were able to prise open a door using a screwdriver.

Nick, 35, from Wem said: "A friend of the lady came running over and asked us to help get her baby out of the car.

"They had been trying for about 40 minutes to open the car and were getting very upset. The baby was very distressed and the keys had fallen between her knees."

"We have a kit which we use to open cars when the keys have been locked inside the vehicle. But unfortunately this time we couldn't use it as it seems the baby had been playing with the keys and had set off the dead lock on the car.

"So we had to get to the fob of the keys with a screwdriver and press the lock open. It took a few attempts but we managed it in the end. We didn't give it a second thought when we were asked to help as there was a baby involved and the sun was shining down on the car. It becomes second nature to you regardless of the situation. The baby was the priority.

"When we released the car locks the mum was understandably very upset but also very relieved. We were just glad to help. The baby was oblivious to it all though as I think she had worn herself out. She was fast asleep."

A fire engine from Shrewsbury was sent to the scene but the crew's services were not needed.