A shopkeeper has been hailed as a "hero" after cutting a toddler's arm free from the chain of a Lime bike with a hacksaw.

Halil Kurt, who owns two shops in Weston Park, Crouch End, was returning home at around 6.40pm on June 16 after day out with his family when he heard a child screaming.

Jumping out of his car he saw the child, around 18 months old, had its arm trapped between the chain and the chain guard of a Lime bicycle on the pavement.

The father-of-three ran inside his home to fetch a bolt cutter, but could not break through the chain.

"It was hell," he said. "It was a very dramatic moment. I saw the child screaming, his father was struggling and his mother unable to do anything.

"I grabbed my tools and tried to cut the chain but the cutter couldn't do it. Another man brought a hacksaw. The baby was screaming whenever the bike moved."

After asking the child's father to hold the chain steady, he finally managed to release their arm.

The baby's family gave Halil Kurt a thank you gift for releasing their son's arm from a Lime bike after it got trappedThe baby's family gave Halil Kurt a thank you gift for releasing their son's arm from a Lime bike after it got trapped (Image: David Winskill)

Recalling the moment the child was finally free, he said: "When his mother cuddled him his eyes were shining. His hand was a little bit injured. I ran into the shop to get a treat for him.

"It was very emotional. I have children - it did affect me a lot."

Mr Kurt returned to his car where his two daughters, aged seven and six, and son, five, had heard the scene unfold and asked him what happened.

He said: "My son Ezel hugged me and kissed me and told me 'Daddy you are my hero' and that melted my heart."

To his great surprise, the following day the family returned to give him a voucher with a note thanking him, and he in turn gave them a treat from his Londis store.

A Lime spokesperson said: "This was an unusual and extremely unfortunate incident reported to us by a witness earlier this month, and we can imagine it must have been very worrying for the parents and others involved.

"We are relieved about the outcome, and are wishing the child a full recovery."

The London Fire Brigade sent an engine from Hornsey Fire Station.

A spokesperson said: "The baby was released from the bike before the brigade arrived."

They said the incident was over for firefighters at 6.50pm.