Toddler's feet burned by disposable barbecue on Exmouth beach

• Report by Sam Blackledge

A toddler suffered burns to his feet after stepping on a disposable barbecue which was buried on Exmouth beach.

One-year-old Harry from Guildford in Surrey was on holiday with his parents and walking along the sand when he began screaming in pain.

His mum, Stephanie Rogers, told ITV West Country: "His knees buckled and he started screaming. I picked him up and couldn't see anything that could have caused it.

"My husband recoiled with his hand because the sand was incredibly hot. It was scorching. My husband got a shovel to have a look and it turned out there was a barbecue under there. I have no idea how long it had been there."

Harry was taken to hospital with second-degree burns and a large blister on the bottom of his right foot.

His parents say he is still in a lot of pain but they hope the wounds will heal.

"It was awful, really awful. I'm a first time parent, he is my only child, and you feel completely helpless.

"It was just so distressing. I can't begin to explain how gut-wrenching these cries were. So many friendly lovely people were coming up asking if he was ok. It was one of the worst things I've ever experienced."

Stephanie is urging people to dispose of barbecues properly.

"Its just laziness," she said. "I don't believe whoever did it was malicious or trying to cause harm. But it's complete laziness and complete stupidity. There must be plenty of ways to dispose of the barbecue or take it home."

Earlier this summer emergency crews across the region tackled several fires they say were caused by disposable barbecues and bonfires, despite warnings against them.

A campaign to ban the sale of disposable barbeques in Dorset has gained more than ten thousand signatures.

It follows the devastating fire in Wareham Forest two weeks ago which destroyed hundreds of hectares of heathland. Firefighters found disposable barbecues at the scene.