Shocked street wardens in Bradford said today children as young as three are being left to fend for themselves in cars while their parents go shopping.

The wardens - who patrol the city centre - have seen toddlers left unattended for more than three hours in car parks, and have had to "babysit" the children until the parents return.

Today a spokesman for children's charity the NSPCC said she was appalled. Children were in "very real danger" and shouldn't be left alone even for a few moments.

City centre wardens manager Yvonne Crossley said she was now talking to the police about tackling the problem and wanted to warn parents not to leave children alone.

Mrs Crossley said the street wardens - who watch out for trouble and report incidents of crime - had been upset by the cavalier attitude of some parents when confronted about leaving youngsters to their own devices while they meandered around the shops.

"This is a real area of concern for us and the wardens have been very upset by it," Mrs Crossley said.

In one incident, three children - aged three, four and six - were left for more than three hours in a car in Broadway, and the police were called to take them to the station until the parents returned.

"What are they thinking?" Mrs Crossley asked. "Anything could happen to the child. The youngsters could get out of the car and wander off, someone could bump into the car or someone could even steal it.

"Then what would happen?"

In the latest incident on Monday, a young boy aged seven, was left in his father's car in Simes Street car park. Wardens spotted the youngster and waited more than 20 minutes until the father returned with two of his other children.

Mrs Crossley said: "All he could say was: 'He wouldn't come shopping with me, what else could I do?'

"We were there for 20 minutes but the boy could have been there much longer."

Nicola Holland, of the NSPCC, said she was "absolutely appalled" at the news.

"It's never, ever safe to leave young children alone in a car or any other public place.

"Bradford's city wardens are right to be very concerned - even leaving young children for a relatively short time is too risky.

"Accidents and abductions can happen in minutes, if not seconds."

She said the charity would encourage parents and carers to take their children shopping with them and try to make it fun, like giving children a basket at the supermarket to carry.

"Never, ever take the risk of leaving young children."

And she urged passers-by to report children left on their own to the authorities, like police and wardens.

"Children are in very real danger in these circumstances," she said.

Mrs Crossley, who currently manages a team of seven wardens and supervisors and is interviewing for more wardens for the university and Keighley areas, said it was a problem that needed tackling now - and parents had to be warned not to leave youngsters unattended.

"Parents need to have a wake-up call and I have been talking to the police's Child Protection Unit to see what can be done about it," she said.

West Yorkshire Police today encouraged parents to be sensible.

A spokesman said: "We would urge parents not to leave children unattended in parked cars for any length of time. Not only does it place the children in a vulnerable position, there is also a risk that they could release the handbrake, causing a road accident or injuring themselves.

"As with any situation, a young child's safety could be at risk in the absence of adult or parental supervision."