Wristbands with a child's name, address and parent's contact details will be issued free of charge by town centre owners Land Securities in an attempt to minimise the trauma and distress of children and parents becoming separated in the busy town centre.

The Little Shopper Stay Safe scheme comes eight months after panic struck in the town when a child was allegedly abducted from the Woolworths store in Corporation Street.

A mum began a frantic search for her five-year-old child before finding her with a man who was later arrested.

In the end, police discovered the man was acting with the best of
intentions but Land Securities marketing manager Danielle Charles said the incident confirmed to her a precaution had to be put in place.

She said: "That incident is what started this off. That's the only incident we have had but it's simply a no-brainer not to put a scheme like this in place.

"Our staff have been trained and the retailers in the town centre are also on board, so if a child does get lost they can be reunited with their parent or guardian quickly and with minimal trauma.

"Part of this scheme is about making sure children themselves know what to do if separated from their parents.

"We try in every way we can to make the environment as safe as possible."

The operation, being rolled out across Land Securities' 27 shopping centres, comes after a successful pilot scheme at the company's Lewisham shopping centre in south London.

From Monday, parents will be able to drop into Clarks in Willow Place and Adams Kids in Corporation Street to pick up a wristband. Security staff will also have bands available.

Contact details of parents will be written on and attached to the child's wrist for the duration of their shopping trip.

Youngsters will be instructed to head to a shop window displaying the scheme's teddy bear logo if they do get lost.

The child will then be spotted by one of the company's 50 CCTV cameras and reunited with their parent or guardian as quickly as possible by security staff.

Parent Beata Parciak, of Shire Road, Corby, who uses the town centre with her four-year-old son Michal, said: "I think it is an excellent idea as it can be easy to be separated from your child when out shopping. This scheme would put my mind at rest."