Children scrawl 'help' in locked car in Rochdale

Two children scrawled "help" on the windows of a car after being locked in the vehicle in Greater Manchester.

The boy, six, and his 10-year-old sister were left in the stifling conditions in Rochdale on Friday.

Passers-by saw their plea in the condensation and dialled 999. Their 20-year-old brother has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

Social workers said the man had gone into the town centre for longer than the 10 minutes he had planned.

Social worker visit

He told police he had left the youngsters for no more than 20 minutes. The temperature that day was about 19C, according to the Met Office.

The children were taken to hospital as a precaution but were unharmed and discharged soon after.

Their brother, understood to be a university student, has been released on bail.

A spokeswoman for Rochdale Council added: "A social worker visited the family home of the children.

"The children were happy and healthy and we will be conducting a follow-up visit."