A 10-MONTH-OLD baby girl suffered burns to her neck after youths threw a lit firework into her pram.

A 10-MONTH-OLD baby girl suffered burns to her neck after youths threw a lit firework into her pram.

The tot's jacket caught fire during the incident outside a newsagents in New Stevenston near Motherwell.

Police are hunting two youths in connection with the attack, which took place yards from the entrance of Taylor High School in Carfin Street.

The baby's mother managed to tear the burning clothing off her daughter but she sustained three minor burns to her neck.

Officers said the jacket had saved the baby from suffering a serious injury The incident happened last Monday but details have just emerged.

Constable Alan Wylie, from North Lanarkshire Community Safety team, said: "This was a totally mindless act and another example of how dangerous the misuse of fireworks can be. It was fortunate that this young baby was not more seriously hurt.

"The child was very lucky she had a rain jacket on, which covered her body and most of her face. The area would have been very busy at the time."

It's understood the 43-year-old mother had stopped outside the shop and was waiting after her 10-year-old son went in.

Officers said she turned her back to check on her son and then saw sparks coming from inside the pram.

The baby did not require medical treatment.

Constable Wylie today said police were following a positive line of inquiry and the youths responsible for throwing the firework are not thought to be pupils at the school.

A police spokeswoman appealed for witnesses to the incident, which happened at 3.40pm on November 3, to come forward.

The incident comes as The Evening Times calls for an outright ban on the sale and use of fireworks, except at organised displays.

Our website was flooded with comments after we told how fire crews faced a night of mayhem on November 5, with crews coming under attack from rockets, bricks and stones.