A CONCERNED grandmother has hit out at parents who drink too much in the run up to Christmas while in charge of their children.ight Close, Blackburn, was shocked to see a drunken man in charge of a three-year-old boy in a shop in Ouseburn Road near her home, and has called for people to be vigilant over the festive period.

She said: "This man was out of his skull. The little boy who was with him wanted a tube of Smarties but his dad wouldn't let him have them, despite the fact he had two bags full of lager. So I offered to buy the boy the Smarties.

"Then I followed them outside and the man was walking yards away from his son. He could easily have run into the road and been killed.

"I lost sight of them in the Leyburn Road estate but I would have reported him if I'd seen where he lived."

"The current campaign against drinking and driving should be extended to not drinking while in charge of young children.

"It's extremely difficult for the general public to know what to do. I was on my own when I saw this man with his boy, and there was nothing I could do.

"I think it would be helpful if the general public could take some action without having to feel scared of the consequences.

"Children like this little boy are at a great disadvantage. People like me don't know what action they can legally take to step in, and I just want to make the public more aware of this over the Christmas season.

A council spokesman said: "Anybody who has any concern about a child's welfare should contact Social Services in Blackburn on 01254 583328 or Darwen on 01254 706311."

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