A MOTHER has told how her son nearly lost his life after drinking a bottle and a half of vodka handed to him in the street by an adult.

The teenage boy, who wishes to remain anonymous, quickly drank the spirit before collapsing in a field near South Stanley.

Now his mother is warning parents to keep a close eye on their children after hearing how her son's friends had to keep his face out of the mud so he could breathe before an ambulance arrived.

Chief Insp Bob Glass, of Derwentside Police, has called for legislation to tighten up the licensing law.

In his annual licensing report, Mr Glass said that police in the Consett and Stanley area have successfully cracked down on underage drinking but the problem of youngsters persuading adults to buy alcohol on their behalf is growing.

Mr Glass said: "This is a difficult area for licensees who have a business to run and are complying with the letter of the law. Legislation is needed to tighten up this anomaly and this area is included in the Government White Paper, Time for Reform."

The mother of the teenager said she spent last weekend at her son's bedside in Dryburn Hospital. She said he and a group of his friends had asked a man to buy them two bottles of vodka in Stanley town centre. After the boy drank a bottle and a half of the vodka, he collapsed in a muddy field. His friends took turns to lie with him in the mud holding his face so he could breathe.

She said: "By the time the ambulance arrived he was hypothermic, convulsing and vomiting. My son almost died that night.

"I hope the man who purchased the vodka now feels some remorse for his illegal act. I wonder how he would feel if he had watched his son convulse and choke? I would ask anyone out there, even if they allow their own children to drink alcohol, please, do not buy drink for other peoples' children.