Harry Partridge, three, of Maple Road, Rushden, was at the town's Asda store with his mum when the accident happened.

A customer who saw what had happened pushed the emergency stop button but the little boy was trapped for about half an hour before he was released by firefighters.

He was taken by ambulance to Kettering General Hospital and although he was not seriously injured his hand was swollen and some of the skin was taken off.

His mother, Amie Taylor, 23, had put him down while she got a trolley and was getting money out of her purse when she heard him screaming.

She said: "I just put him down for a second to get a trolley and the next minute I heard him screaming. His hand had become caught in part of the travelator.

"A lady quickly hit the emergency button and an electrician got his tools and started trying to unscrew it to get his hand out but Asda were not helpful. They didn't stop people coming up the travelator so they were just climbing all over us.

"Harry is terrified of escalators now. I don't think the travelators should be designed like that. I am angry with Asda for not being more helpful."

A spokesman from Asda said: "The store followed the correct procedure in that the travelator was stopped and an ambulance and fire crew were called immediately.

"We are very pleased the boy was not hurt and have since sent him a letter and a £15 voucher."

The travelator was closed for repairs after the incident happened on Saturday, January 19.

It reopened on Friday after £1,000 repairs to a cable which was cut by the boy's rescuers.