Shock underage drinking figures

Wirral has been named the third WORST local authority in England for the number of underage children admitted to hospital because of alcohol.

A report published by the North West Public Health Observatory ranks Wirral as 323 out of 326 local authority areas for alcohol-specific hospital admissions for under-18s.

The figures were recorded between 2001 and 2008 and have been presented to the council over the past week.

Terry White from Wirral Council has been telling Heart that things have been getting better.

Heart has also been talking the Drug and Alcohol Action Team at NHS Wirral about the problem.

DAAT Manager Gary Rickwood says that they're seeing children develop problems with vital organs like their liver because of alcohol.