A toddler left alone for just two minutes covered his family’s sofa in coal.

When Ricky Gregory left his son George with his iPad while he emptied the dishwasher at home in Middlesbrough, North Yorks, he couldn’t imagine the destruction he’d return to.

Shocking footage showed the light grey sofa covered in big, black spots where the coal taken from a skuttle next to the fire had been dropped by the two-year-old.

Ricky had to have the sofa professionally cleaned after initial attempts to get rid of the stains proved unsuccessful.

Ricky said: “The initial thought was ‘oh god that is never going to come’ out since coal dust is so fine and the sofa a very light grey.

“I presumed instantly that it would bed into the fibres and be completely ruined. I think it’s true what they say a quiet child is usually up to no good.

“The snug has a log burner in and we keep a bucket of coal beside the fire. He’s never shown any interest towards this bucket before.

“We have managed to get the sofa professionally cleaned which has put it back to new.”