Hospital admissions of boozing teenagers have rocketed by more than a quarter in the West Midlands region during the last seven years, according to the new statistics.Figures for West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, which covers Shropshire, show an increase of 28 per cent from 746 in 2001/02 to 959 in 2006/07 among under-18s. The number of cases nationally has gone up by more than a third.

The total has gone from 5,885 to 8,072, according to the data released by the Liberal Democrats.

The worst areas are London which has seen an 83 per cent increase, followed by the South West (80 per cent), South Central (67 per cent) and the North West (62 per cent).

Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: “Gordon Brown talks about health prevention being important, but what is he doing to tackle the shocking rise in binge drinking amongst our young people?

“This is a dangerously escalating public health crisis with often tragic consequences. The overall numbers mask alarming regional differences.

“We need to find out why the number of children drinking so much that they end up in hospital is so much higher in some parts of the country.”

Ministers remain concerned about the problem and have introduced a public information campaign to promote sensible drinking, an independent review of alcohol pricing and promotion, and a tougher crackdown on under-age sales.

The figures were obtained from Dawn Primarolo, Public Health Minister and follow on from a report in October which revealed the dramatic scale of Telford’s spiralling booze problem.

The in-depth study by the doctor in charge of Telford & Wrekin’s health services painted a picture of a town awash with drink.

More than 30,000 people, nearly a fifth of the population, were classed as “binge drinkers” in Dr Catherine Woodward’s report.

And the number of youngsters aged 11 to 15 found to be regularly boozing is “significantly higher” in the Telford & Wrekin area than the national average.

Meanwhile, in Wales, First Minister Rhodri Morgan called for binge drinking to be tackled and said his Government will push for higher taxes on alcohol.

By Sunita Patel