The heart-stopping moment a toddler was saved by a passing stranger after wandering onto a busy road has been captured on CCTV.

Mo Latif jumped into action when he saw the little boy walking around by himself in Watford, UK.

The footage shows the child was about to step into oncoming traffic in Whippendell Road when the gas engineer took him by the hand and led him to safety.

"When I saw the little boy, who was about 17 months old, on his own, I stopped my van because it was late and I wondered why he was alone," Mr Latif said.

"I couldn't believe it when he ran into the road. My instinct took over to save him from danger.

"The little boy's dad was so thankful when he was reunited with his son. When I got back into my van it took a few minutes to compose myself after such a massive shock.

As a father, it's hard to think that within a split second the course of that little boy's life could have been changed forever

"As a father, it's hard to think that within a split second the course of that little boy's life, and his family, could have been changed forever. I'm glad that I was there when it mattered."