A MOTHER has told of her panic after her 21-month-old daughter was burnt by the exhaust pipe of a motorbike parked across the pavement.

Alice Sloan, from Alfriston, was walking past Hove Town Hall with her daughter Parisa when the toddler ran over to a black Harley Davidson parked on the pavement.

Parisa brushed her left leg against the hot exhaust pipe and burned her calf. Ms Sloan rushed her to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. She was then sent to the burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.

The 36-year-old said: “My daughter was admitted to the burns unit where they debrided the burn and bandaged it.

“Apparently, motorbike exhausts can reach 1,500 degrees Celsius and burns suffered from touching such exhausts can keep on developing over a few days.

“It is likely to leave a nasty scar and if third degree she will require a skin graft and many more painful appointments.

“This would never have happened if the motorbike was parked legally on the road.

“The motorbike was parked outside Hove Town Hall, close to the bus stop, and fully on the pavement in Church Road.

“I wish it was law that exhausts had a protective grate.”

“Unfortunately, in the panic to get my daughter to hospital I didn’t record the bike’s number plate. I would like to make the motorcyclist aware of his actions.”

Ms Sloan said police were unable to help as what happened on June 17 was a civil matter and had suggested she contact Brighton and Hove City Council.

The council has been asked to check CCTV footage for the motorcycle’s number plate.

She added: “It couldn’t have happened at a worse time as my daughter is desperate to use her sand pit and paddling pool in this amazing heat but she has a large bandage on.

“Her baby brother is also due within a week so it has been tough for me too.

“I believe this should be a criminal offence as it endangers the public as my daughter’s injury has proven.”

A council spokeswoman said: “We were sorry to hear about this incident, which clearly highlights the importance of not parking on pavements.

“Driving on the pavement is a road traffic offence and obstructing the pavement can also amount to a criminal offence, both of which are enforceable by Sussex Police.”