‘FRIGHTENING’ new figures reveal children as young as 10 have been admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems.

Data obtained by the Lancashire Telegraph through Freedom of Information requests shows 184 under-age drinkers were rushed to the Royal Blackburn or Burnley General in the last three years.

Last year’s total of 44 was down from 71 in the previous year, but included a 10-year-old. And 69 under-18s were admitted in 2010/11.

The figure included children who may have had their stomachs pumped after binge drinking and those suffering physical injuries as a result of alcohol consumption.

Pendle councillor Mohammed Iqbal, who is vice-chairman of Lancashire County Council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “It’s frightening that so many children and young people are being admitted for alcohol-related issues. There needs to be a multi-agency approach and parental involvement to find out why this is happening.

“The target should be zero and it’s really worrying to hear a 10 year old was admitted. What sort of future has that young person?”

Dominic Harrison, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “My suspicion is the majority of these will be one-off events of alcohol poisoning, or drinking too much on a single occasion. But the figures are still alarming.

“For a fiver, young people can buy more than the recommended weekly alcohol intake for an adult. The most important thing the government could do is raise the minimum unit price.”

Plans to introduce alcohol minimum pricing appear to have stalled in recent months, but Mr Harrison again urged the government to act quickly.

Charles Thomson, consultant in emergency medicine at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We must not forget that under 18s are still children, with developing bodies and low tolerance levels, so drinking to the point of needing hospital treatment is extremely dangerous.

“We have seen children as young as ten come into the emergency department as a result of drinking alcohol. However, the majority of underage drinkers who end up in hospital tend to be in the 14 to 17-year-old age group.

“Because they are younger, they do not metabolise alcohol as quickly as adults, so it stays in their system and the effects of the alcohol are more pronounced.”