A CONCERNED mother was left distraught after her toddler fell down an open drain.

On Saturday afternoon a mother’s walk with her puppy and four children turned into a nightmare when her son fell down an uncapped drain in Fairfield Park, Stotfold.

Jackie Smith, who was walking along Kingsley Avenue, witnessed the incident. She said: “I heard the mother scream and I knew immediately what had happened.

“The little boy was very frightened as was the mum. He was crying and I was shaking with anger.”

The toddler caught his foot in the orange netting covering the hole and fell down it, explained Ms Smith, who lives in Fairfield Hall.

Ms Smith said the orange netting covering the hole near to Icknield was being held in place with a metal spike with an orange cone over it.

She said: “People are trying to do good but nobody is doing anything to fix it.

“I have lived here for two-and-a-half years and nothing has been done about it.

“I was utterly upset to witness this and I promised the family I would try and do something about it,” she added.

Stotfold Town Cllr Geoff Smith, who lives on the development, said: “I am utterly frustrated that so many years have gone by and nobody, the developers or CBC are taking responsibility while accidents keep on happening.”

Cllr Ian Dalgarno, deputy executive member for sustainable communities services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “We’re very sorry to hear of this incident.

“This is privately owned land, but nevertheless we are working hard with the town councillors and local residents to make sure the area is safe.”