BOREDOM, cheap booze and poor examples set by parents are leading young children to get drunk, health experts and children's workers warned today.

They said a series of factors were to blame for the high number of children some 11 and under - who were admitted to A&E for acute alcohol intoxication in East Lancashire.

Mike Leaf, director of public health at Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Primary Care Trusts, said: "Alcohol is seen as socially acceptable and is readily available.

"Deprivation is high in East Lancashire and may be one of the reasons why suffer more.

"People don't necessarily have the aspirations for adulthood as other areas, which may result in more problem drinking.

"There may also be fewer opportunities for young people to occupy themselves in places like East Lancashire."

Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health at Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT, said: "It has been suggested that where there are fewer options for young people then they will drink more.

"There is a social class element where alcohol consumption goes up as the social class gets lower.

"If you are not skilled you are more likely to have a high alcohol intake."

He went on: "Alcohol is a lot cheaper and that is a very significant factor. There is strong evidence to show average alcohol consumption is very closely related to cost of alcohol."

East Lancashire's high levels of adult boozing were bound to rub off on younger people, he said: "There is also evidence to show if your parents are drinkers you are more likely to than say if your family were teatotal."

Sue Brown, of Burnley substance misuse charity Alcohol and Drug Services, added: "There is a genuine desire to find out what feels good and to try it.

"Alcohol is more freely available than other substances and it is also a heavily advertised product.

"For example, I have seen in the run up to the World Cup adverts associating drinking with pleasure."