A PUSHCHAIR has been withdrawn from sale - because of safety concerns following complaints from a south Essex couple.

Catalogue retailer Littlewoods has confirmed Little Shield SCS has stopped supplying St Moritz tandem buggies, after discovering they are prone to buckling.

The announcement came after a pushchair carrying mum Leyann Newman's two tots collapsed while she was pushing them across a road.

Mrs Newman, 30, of Third Walk, Canvey, was pushing seven-week-old son, Tony, and year-old brother, Billy, in Third Avenue when the buggy buckled and collapsed.

Billy, who had his thumb in his mouth at the time, was tipped forward, hitting his head on the food tray and causing him to bite his thumb.

Mrs Newman said: "It just happened without warning.

"Luckily, a man who was passing helped me out of the road.

"I had to drag the children home in the buggy because I couldn't carry two children at once as well pulling the buggy.

"I am recovering from a Caesarean, so it was very difficult.

"Tony was protected by the blankets he was wrapped in, so he wasn't hurt, but Billy hit his head and has a sore thumb.

"He was all right, but it could have been a lot worse."

The mum bought the £179 St Moritz tandem buggy at Christmas from Littlewoods, ready for the new arrival in her family.

Mrs Newman added she had no reason to believe the pushchair was in anything other than peak condition and was adamant she had not overloaded it.

She added: "The only thing in the pushchair at the time was the children and a prescription, because I had just been to the doctors. I wasn't even carrying my baby bag on it.

"The central metal bars under the buggy have just completely buckled and it has collapsed out on to the floor."

Rachel Nightingale from Littlewoods, confirmed a fault had been found with the buggy and said Little Shield had withdrawn it.

She added: "There has been no breach of any safety measure, but it has been noticed that brandcan bend under excessive loads.

"It didn't warrant a recall, because it complies with British Safety Standards."

The Echo was unable to contact Little Shield for a comment.