Parents using blankets and towels over buggies and prams to shelter children from the sun are putting them at risk - without realising they could come to any harm.

It's a common sight in this weather to see families using a blanket, sheet or even a jacket to drape over their child's pram in an attempt to shield them from the sun.

But most parents are unaware that this can cause their child to quickly overheat - causing heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Many of the Manchester mums we spoke to during last summer's hot weather said they had done it with the best of intentions without realising they were causing any harm.

Jade Ferguson, mum to toddler Maisie, said: " I did it before I knew about the risks from reading posts online about it.

"I used to cover mine but I always had a little gap for the air to circulate. I have seen some parents cover with jackets or thick blankets and sometimes I want to tell them but I don't want to offend."

Jade, from Newton Heath, added: "I feel more parents should be aware. I find parasols to be so unreliable. I have a sunshade on my pram now which is much better."

Deanna Butlin, from Hyde, mum to Chloe and Riley, used to cover both her children when they were younger.

She said: "I did it with both of them as babies. As a mum all you want is for your baby to be safe and out of the sun. I found parasols used to get knocked about while out in the pram. People used to walk into them or you couldn't fit through doorways as they stuck out too much and it was just a pain.

"I used to put a thin blanket over the top instead to keep the sun off and to make like a shady spot. Never did I even think twice about baby overheating as if they were in a warm car.

"Knowing the information now I wouldn't do it. I would find another alternative."

Katie Clayton, mum to Mia-rose Latchford and Clayton Latchford, added: "I tried the umbrellas and a big canopy on our pushchairs but they always fell off or hit people.

"I used to put a blanket on whatever side the sun was on so it wasn't fully covering them before I knew about this."

The Lewis's Legacy Little Lives Matter charity shared a post on its Facebook page warning parents about the dangers - stating that overheating and re-breathing Co2 are risk factors of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and suffocation.

Health bosses in Manchester backed the stance.

Dr Babar Farooq, a GP at Blackfriars Medical Centre in Broughton and children and maternity commissioning lead for Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "It is understandable that parents want to do everything possible to keep their babies as cool as possible during such warm weather.

"However, putting a blanket over a pram to shade them from the sun can result in a child becoming quickly overheated as blankets are not well-ventilated so the air doesn't circulate.

"If you go out when it’s hot, use a parasol or sunshade instead and try to keep the pram out of direct sunlight as much as you can."

For NHS advice on keeping babies safe during hot weather see here .