A MOTHER has reacted with anger after her four-year-old daughter was labelled overweight by Wirral health workers.

Mum Kirstyn Jones received a letter warning that her daughter could be at risk of developing cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure in later life.

And she says the worst fears of having her child "labelled" have come true.

For Kirstyn was told during pregnancy that there was a "high chance" her baby would be born with Down's Syndrome and she was deeply upset she would face life being labelled with a disability.

The letter telling her Lilia is overweight follows a health service weight screening scheme run in conjunction with Wirral Council.

"How dare they tell me my four-year-old child is overweight, when she isn’t?" asked Mrs Jones from Upton.

"It's made me so upset. It's a damaging and ridiculous letter. There has got to be a better way of doing it."

In a letter to NHS Wirral, Mrs Jones wrote: "When I was pregnant with Lilia I was told that she had a high chance of having Down's Syndrome.

"Other than the huge turmoil this condition itself brings, I knew we could potentially face a very uncertain future.

"One of my greatest concerns for her was that society would label her and the thought of my baby being placed under a labelling system tormented me.

"When she was born healthy the relief was obviously immense and I was able to look forward to a bright future with my beautiful baby girl.

"You must understand the horror I have now felt at receiving an impersonal letter telling me that my daughter has been given a label that I must be in some way responsible for this."

A spokesman from NHS Wirral said: "Our annual child measurement programme shows that one in five children is over their healthy ideal weight by the time they start school, rising to one in three by the age 11.

"The figures for overweight children across Wirral are too high and we have a programme of work to address this.

"This is part of a national initiative.

"NHS Wirral and Wirral Council are currently working closely with teachers and children from more than 90 schools across Wirral to monitor children's progress with their health and weight.

"We give this feedback so that parents can take action if their children are overweight."