Man cautioned over children stuck in car

A man who left two children trapped in a hot car for up to an hour has been given a police caution.

The youngsters, believed to be a three-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, scrawled a "help" message in condensation to passers-by.

The 20-year-old elder brother of the children had parked in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, but he is thought to have been held up for longer than the 10 minutes he planned to be away from the car.

Witnesses in the town centre said last month that the children were unable to get out of the locked vehicle in stifling conditions and saw their plea spelt out.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Yorkshire Street on June 11 and the boy and girl were taken to hospital as a precaution. They were unharmed and discharged soon after.

Council chiefs said a social worker has since visited the family home and declared the children "happy and healthy".

In a statement today, Greater Manchester Police said: "A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and was cautioned by police on July 1."