Case has really made me think twice about taking the children to Hull Fair

This week I've been giving the kids lots and lots of cuddles.

Not because they've been little angels helping round the house and making their beds or because they managed to brush their teeth without me shouting at them to do it because, quite frankly, they haven't done any of these things.

If only they would do just some of these things without me having to beg them then it would make my year.

Apparently, they're going to give me breakfast in bed tomorrow for Mother's Day and help "clean" the house.

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But my sudden cuddle overload is because of the shocking case of a gang preying on children at Hull Fair last year.

This week, Daniel Banasik was jailed for trying to abduct a five-year-old boy as he held his mother's hand at the fair.

He was with others who, it is believed, could have been part of a gang ready to abduct the child and take him away.

The boy's stepdad had only left them briefly to buy his son a bubble gun from a stall and while he stood with his mum they targeted the boy and tried to grab him.

If it wasn't for his mum clinging on tightly to his leg, he may have been taken.

Hull Fair is a place where we religiously go every year with the children.

It's one of the highlights of the year we all look forward to and because everyone is in such high spirits, you never think of the possible dangers.

But this case has really made me think twice about taking the children again.

I gave my two such a big cuddle after hearing the stomach-churning details.

You never expect things like this to happen on your own doorstep, you expect to go to Hull Fair and it to be safe because there are lots of families around enjoying themselves, too.

This mum was even holding her child's hand when he was grabbed – it was not as if she had let him run off on his own.

I let the kids go riding on their bikes outside and, when we go for a walk, they often speed off on their bikes in front of me and I do get worried but then think it'll be OK, I'm probably just being paranoid.

But now, sadly for my kids, I don't want them leaving my sight now, especially not in busy places.

The mum in the Hull Fair case won't take her child to the zoo or Flamingo Land and I can see why.

It is hard as a parent to know how much freedom to give our children when we hear of stories like this.

But I know from now on they'll be holding my hand tightly when we go to busy places and I'll watching them like a hawk.

I just thank my lucky stars I have two lovely children and I'll do everything in my power to keep them safe.

I'll even eat the "makeshift" breakfast they're going to give me tomorrow.