Mr Balls, launching a consultation on child safety, said parents needed to identify real dangers without preventing children from "exploring".

But he warned that poorer children were much more likely to be hurt in accidents than wealthier counterparts.

"Children can learn from risk and parents must find a balance," he said.

Mr Balls, the children, schools and families secretary, says he wants a "common-sense" debate about how to improve the safety of children.

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