Boy, 6, swallowed dumped tablets

Lee Scott was put on a heart monitor after taking three anti-depressant tablets left in the garden in Zion Road, Blackburn.

Now Lee's mum Carol has blasted Blackburn Council. She says the workmen should have made sure nothing dangerous was left in the garden.

Council officers have launched an investigation.

Carol said: "Lee was out playing with a group of friends and they had all gone into the garden.

"The house is empty and was being cleared by council workmen, but they had just thrown all the rubbish out of the house into the garden.

"I know Lee shouldn't have been playing in the garden but all the children are so used to going into each other's gardens he didn't think he was doing anything wrong. "It was lucky none of the others took them because they thought they were sweets.

"Luckily, one of the older girls came and told me and we got Lee to hospital straight away.

"His blood pressure and pulse were low and he had to be kept on a heart monitor for the night."

Carol reported the incident to a council housing officer and says workmen should take more care to clear their rubbish away.

She said: "This would never have happened if the workmen had done their job properly and cleared everything out of the garden.

"When I went over and checked the garden for more tablets I also found a carving knife and a penknife.

"Children will be children and they will go poking around where they shouldn't.

"It is up to the council to make sure they clear up after themselves."

A council spokesman said the incident was being investigated.

"We are deeply concerned about this and also relieved that the child is safe.

"When a house is being cleared by council workers people often come along and dump rubbish in the garden and we believe this might be what happened in this instance."

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