WITHOUT wishing to take any credit from Councillor Jacqui Rayment for a job well done (Echo, July 16) in the case of the lost child, and I appreciate it must be a parent’s worst nightmare when a child goes missing, I nevertheless question what might be the possible outcome in such a situation should the finder of young “lost” children be an unknown, everyday citizen or man/woman in the street.

To approach a young child, especially if you happen to be a male (and a motorist), unless the child was in immediate danger such as wandering across a busy street unescorted, would, in my view, be thoughtless to say the least, if not foolhardy however good your intentions might be (such is the rotten world we now live in).

Of course I am not suggesting we should all stand back and do nothing in such situations, so what I would suggest, and I’m sure this is good advice should a similar occurrence arise, would be to approach a second adult, a complete stranger, point out the problem and tackle it together.

That would ensure no mistakes or false accusations were made and the situation would hopefully be resolved with a happy ending, as was this particular one.

L A O’BEE, Southampton.