A toddler had to be rescued by fire crews from a locked car outside a Greenhithe supermarket.

The youngster, believed to be about three years old, became trapped inside the vehicle yesterday in the Asda carpark when the central locking system activated itself.

Her mum had placed her shopping in the car and closed the door, only to see the keys laying on the centre console.

A crew from Dartford fire station were called to the store in Crossways Boulevard at about 4.20pm.

Crew manager Jim Joannidis said: "We tried with bits of wire to hook the keys but after three attempts we decided we had to force our way in.

"Because of the heat the child was starting to sweat a bit but she had a drink of water and was fine. She had a look around the fire engine and sat in it with her grandad."