A toddler escaped from a day nursery and walked alongside a busy road before he was spotted by a Good Samaritan.

Two-year-old Billy Anderson wandered off during an outdoor play session at Second Steps Day Nursery, in Durham Road, Laindon.

Education regulator Ofsted has been called in to investigate how the tot was able to leave the premises.

Billy’s family are keen to track down and thank the unknown woman, who returned the youngster to the nursery.

His grandmother, Deborah Mason, 52, said: “He got out of the garden and before they realised he was missing, he ended up walking up Durham Road.

“He could have been run over or killed.

“There was a lady walking up the road who took him back and I don’t even know if the nursery knewhe was gone.

“They said we are lucky as he is OK, but it is not the point.”

Billy’s mother, Chantelle Anderson, lodged a complaint with the nursery about possible safety issues that allowed her son to leave the site.

Nursery manager Lorraine Griffith said: “We are investigating and waiting for Ofsted to come and look into this incident for us.

“It is an ongoing investigation and I can’t say any more than that.

“Ofsted is investigating alongside us.”

When the nursery was last visited by Ofsted last August, inspectors found no issues relating to safety.

It described the site as a “safe and secure environment”.

It also said staff understood their responsibility to safeguard the children in their care.

Mrs Mason, of Convent Close, Laindon, claims the nursery did not take down the name of the woman who returned Billy to the site.

She said: “We don’t know who the woman is, but we would really like to thank her personally and buy her some flowers.”

An Ofsted spokesman said: "Ofsted is aware of the matter and is taking appropriate action.”