A project to keep young children safe in shopping centres has proved so successful locally it is to be expanded to the rest of the country.

In October 2004 Keighley's Airedale Centre was one of the first shopping precincts in the UK to become a so-called 'Child Safe Zone'.

The scheme later encompassed the rest of the town centre.

Parents and other carers who lose contact with a child can ring a number shown on the window stickers displayed on shops throughout the centre.

These will immediately put them in touch with security personnel.

Airedale Centre manager Susan Mendoza said: "Although the Airedale Centre is a safe place to come and shop, I can only imagine the feeling as a parent when you lose a child at some point.

"Thankfully most lost children are reunited very quickly, but this scheme will help parents to get help fast during those first few seconds.

"Only on Saturday I witnessed a child who had been separated from her mother and she was very upset.

"She knew her first name but not her surname.

"Trying to get through to a child who is distraught is distressing for everybody and it's frustrating because you need to get information."

She added the centre was also offering free child-safe wristbands, which are available from Adams children's clothes store and BB's caf.

"If a child is found wearing a wristband with a mobile phone number on the back, it makes it so much easier to track a parent or guardian down," she said.

"Please feel free to come in and pick up a wristband to use in the centre, for trips into town or on other days out."

She said Child Safe had been well received by Keighley shoppers so was set to become a national scheme.

It will be established not only in shopping centres but also at other places where many families congregate, such as beaches and amusement parks.

Families who register are given an identity code and a password.

Details of the child, including a description and photograph, along with any medical or special needs, are stored on a secure database.

A parent or guardian who loses their child can alert security guards and CCTV operators by giving their code number, allowing the description to be retrieved.

Child Safe staff will be on hand in the Airedale Centre to offer further information on Tuesday, February 21.

People who sign up to the Child Safe scheme next week will be entitled to free membership for one year.