Two taxi drivers spot four-year-old girl pushing pram full of toys along street at 2.30am before she tells them she’s ‘going to visit her grandparents’
- Girl wearing onesie was spotted pushing pram full of toys at 2.30am on Saturday
- Two taxi drivers saw him walking along road in Rochford, Essex, and pulled over
- Third driver then also arrived at scene and his passenger got out to reassure her
- Police took her to a safe place and were satisfied no offences were committed
A four-year-old girl was found walking the streets alone wearing a onesie while pushing a pram full of toys at 2.30am.
Two taxi drivers saw the child walking along a road in Rochford, Essex, in the early hours of Saturday – and she told them she was going to visit her grandparents.
A third driver who had picked up a 24-year-old woman then pulled over at the scene, and the passenger got out to talk to the girl to reassure her.
Two taxi drivers saw the girl walking along this road in Rochford, Essex, at 2.30am on Saturday
The child was put in the back of a taxi while the drivers waited for police, who arrived and took her to a safe place before tracking down her parents.
Officers said they were satisfied no offences had been committed and that the child was safe to be left at home, but referred the incident to social services.
One of the drivers from AC Taxis told the Southend Echo: ‘I asked the woman I was driving if she wouldn’t mind speaking to her.
‘As a father myself I know the girl would have probably felt better speaking to a woman rather than three big men.
‘When the police finally arrived and set off to find her home, we followed behind until she was safe, and then I took my passenger home.’
Stephen Noakes, manager of AC Taxis, added: ‘I am extremely proud of my three drivers John, Syed and Albie for making sure this little girl got home safe and sound.
The three taxi drivers were from AC Taxis, based in this building in Southend, Essex
‘We would also like to thank the young lady who was in one of our taxis, for her help and would like to offer her a free journey if she contacts me.’
He said all the firm’s drivers have recently been on a course on how to look out for the signs of vulnerable children, adding: ‘This has made the effort worth it.’
An Essex Police spokesman told MailOnline today: ‘We were called by a taxi driver at around 2.25am on Saturday, November 30 after he discovered a four-year-old girl walking in Rochford.
‘The man looked after the girl before we arrived and took her to a place of safety. We managed to locate the girl’s parents and we are satisfied that no offences have been committed.
‘We were also satisfied that the child was safe to be left at home. Our officers have made a social services referral, which is policy in these kinds of incidents.
‘We would like to extend our thanks to the taxi driver for his quick and kind actions.’