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Whitby baby burnt by steam bus spark
a WHITBY mum has told how her baby was left burnt and distressed after a brush with one of the town's most popular tourist attractions.
Sophie Hainsworth (22) claims her seven-month-old daughter Phoebe Coverdale was left with a burn on her scalp and a hole in her bib caused by sparks flying from the chimney of Elizabeth, the world's only three axle steam bus, as it travelled past them in Love Lane.
Miss Hainsworth, of Upgang Lane, said: "It wasn't until Phoebe started screaming that I noticed she had this burn on her bib.
"My prime consideration was to take care of her.
"We were going to a relatives and when I took her out of the buggy I instantly noticed a burning smell and there was a burn on the back of her head.
"She had her head turned towards the houses rather than the road.
"She was lucky, if her head had been turned the other way the spark could have gone in her eye."
The tot was left with a red burn to the back of her head but thanks to her thick curly hair, Miss Hainsworth believes she was saved from further injury.
She has contacted both Scarborough Borough Council and the police as well as the DVLA and Whitby's MP Robert Goodwill.
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed it is now looking into Miss Hainsworth's complaint.
Miss Hainsworth added: "I think something should be done for the safety of everyone else, not just me and Phoebe.
"It's not necessary to have it taken off the road permanently, it needs looking at.
"Phoebe was fairly lucky but it could have been worse, like when you're out in summer and you have short sleeves on, it could just burn straight onto your skin."
The mum-of-one has complained to Elizabeth's owners Viv and Vernon Smith of the Northern Star Motor Carraige Company.
They told the Whitby Gazette they have not received an official complaint from Miss Hainsowrth and have been given no evidence of the injury or damaged garments.
In a statement Mr Smith said: "On Tuesday 3 August, in the morning, a woman approached a new employee of ours and was irate, to say the least.
"She was directed to me, just as we were about to depart on a trip and the area was very busy with people.
"Since this very upsetting exchange, the steam bus' spark arrestor has been checked again and found to be working correctly.
"However, due to the circumstances, we are to trial the fitting of a further safety device, a fourth layer of mesh inside the steam bus' chimney to lessen even further the chance of a repeat incident happening.
"Elizabeth has operated virtually trouble-free for almost five years, completing over 10,000 journeys in that time."
Mr Smith added Elizabeth is adored by many local children, who have grown up learning to wave at the bus and they never wish to harm them, taking precautions to keep it that way.
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Weather for Whitby
Thursday 09 February 2012
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Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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