A TODDLER suffered a fractured skull after falling out of a first floor window on Portland.

Dorset Police are warning parents of the dangers of leaving windows open after the 14-month-old boy fell on to concrete outside his home in Southwell during the night.

The boy was taken by ambulance to head injury specialists at Southampton General Hospital and is believed to be recovering well.

A police spokeswoman said: “In the last two months Dorset Police have received two reports of children falling from open first floor windows.

“The latest incident took place in Portland during the early hours of the morning when a 14-month-old boy fell from a window on to concrete below.

The spokeswoman said police had originally feared for the toddler’s prospects but he is now expected to make a full recovery.

She added: “The boy sustained a fractured skull and was treated at Southampton General Hospital.

“His condition was not life-threatening.”

A spokesman for the family said they didn’t want to comment.

Portland mayor Dave Thurston echoed Dorset Police’s calls for parents to be vigilant.

He said: “I would strongly support and reiterate the comments of the police on this matter. Mums and dads with young children have got to keep an eye on them when they’re near open windows and patio windows and need to be very careful.”

Detective Inspector Mark Samuel, of Dorset Police’s child protection unit, said: “It’s only natural that people will open more windows during the warmer weather. But I would urge parents to check that such windows aren’t accessible to young children.

“It’s important to check that children can’t reach open windows by climbing on other furniture and that accessible windows don’t open wide enough for a child to fit through.

“We have now had two recent incidents show just how easy it is for accidents to happen and I would hate for other families to endure similar distress.”

The police spokesman said the second incident involved an 18-month-old boy who fell from a first floor window and on to the pavement in the Charminster area of Bournemouth.

The spokesman said he sustained bruising but no major injuries and was treated at Poole Hospital.