EVERY parent knows the nightmare of turning round to find their child missing.

Thankfully most youngsters will appear seconds later none the worse for their adventure.

But what happens when a child goes missing in the city centre.

In a bid to ensure youngsters can be found as quickly as possible, the city council has joined forces with Glasgow City Centre Retail Association to launch the Child Safe Zone scheme.

It will use a variety of ways to reunite lost children with their families, with posters to be displayed around the city showing a helpline number which connects directly to the Glasgow Community Services operations centre.

The team's search procedures will kick in as soon as the team learns a child has become separated from their parent or guardian.

Visitors to the city centre can also write their mobile phone number onto a free, colourful wristband which is then secured around their child’s wrist.

That will allow whoever finds the child to quickly contact their family to let them know that their child is safe.

The wristbands are available at key locations in the city centre including the Gallery of Modern Art, The Lighthouse, Buchanan Galleries, Central Station,

St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, the City Chambers and St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.

City council leader Gordon Matheson said: “We’re very pleased to be able to add the Child Safe Zones initiative to our portfolio of visitor services.

"A huge number of people visit Glasgow city centre every week and we are proud of our reputation as a safe and secure place to visit.

"It is very important to us that people continue to enjoy their visits to the city centre. In reality, few children do become separated from their guardians, but if the worst should happen, this scheme means we can reunite lost children very quickly with their parent or guardian, minimising the upset for everyone.”

Anne Ledgerwood, chairwoman of Glasgow City Centre Retail Association, said: “ .” TO FOLLOW!

Families should look for the easily recognisable Child Safe Zones logo on stickers and posters across the city centre displaying the helpline number 0141 287 9999.

Anyone losing sight of a child in their care or any shopper finding a lost child should call the number on the sticker to speak directly to the security team.

For more information on the Child Safe Zone Initiative contact Glasgow City Council’s City Centre Strategy team on 0141 287 8618 or visit http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/childsafezone.