FIREFIGHTERS had to free a toddler trapped inside a car that locked itself. The 16-month-old boy was trapped for up to 15 minutes yesterday afternoon in Glencoe Road, Chatham.

Fire crews explained that the mother had left the keys of the Renault Laguna on the passenger seat and got an item out of the boot. When she shut the boot the central locking system closed.

A spokesman for Medway Fire Station said: "It appears the car suffered gremlins and for some reason locked itself. The mother called use and we were able to free the lock mechanism."

He added: "The child was none the worse for his ordeal."