A THREE-year-old boy walked unnoticed out his Bradford nursery and crossed one of the city's busiest roads before going into a shop more than a quarter of a mile away.

The child, who has not been named, wandered out of Killinghall Primary and Nursery School, Bradford Moor, when parents arrived to collect children.

He then walked up Killinghall Road towards Undercliffe, crossed the busy main road and went into Price Cut general store on Fagley Road - 0.3 miles from the nursery.

Shop worker Naseer Ahmed said: "He was a bit lost. I fed him some crisps and gave him a drink.

"Then I asked him who he was and who his parents were. He just confirmed his name. He didn't know what nursery he went to until I said the name of it.

"I rang the police and they came and took him. Lots of teachers and people appeared outside the shop.

"I think he was only at the nursery a week."

The boy's grandparents are believed to live close to the shop where he was found.

Parents of children at the nursery were shocked at the incident, which happened last Wednesday afternoon, but also praised Killinghall Primary as a good school.

One mum said: "Safety is paramount. You have a level of trust in practitioners and they have a duty of care.

"That child was very lucky, especially getting across the road. There are a few angry parents."

She added: "I think this has just been a one-off incident."

Another mum said: "It is a really good school. It is the first time I've heard of this sort of thing happening. I was quite upset, thinking what if my kid disappeared."

One woman said: "It did worry me. I don't understand how they could have missed it.

"They have since sent a letter to parents, and they have tightened up - but it should not have been like that in the first place."

The child was picked up by police at about 3.25pm. It is not known what time exactly he left the nursery. The nursery's opening hours from Monday to Thursday are 8am to 11.15am and 12.15pm to 3.30pm.

Gill Edge, headteacher at the school, said: "We activated our Lost Child Policy very swiftly and all staff were mobilised. Fortunately the little boy was located within minutes and was safely reunited with his grandma and family.

"We are operating from a new building that has excellent security during session times – however doors have to be opened to allow parents to collect children and that is when this incident occurred.

"We have amended our procedure so that the doors now remain locked with children let out strictly one by one by a teacher to their parent or carer. We will be grateful if parents and carers can therefore arrive promptly and be patient as they wait outside school for their children because while this may take slightly longer, the safety of all our children is our paramount concern."

Sergeant Jason Stoney, of the Bradford East Area Neighbourhood Team, said: "Police were called to a report of a young boy in commercial premises in Fagley Road, Bradford, at 3.26pm last Wednesday.

"Officers attended and established the child, who was safe and well, had been reported missing from a nearby school.

"Officers have since spoken to the school about its security measures."

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for Children and Young People’s Services, said the school was a good school with a good Ofsted report, but added: "It is important that lessons are learned as quickly as possible.

"The safeguarding team needs to carry out proper checks and I will make sure they do."