THE number of children admitted to hospitals in the county with drink-related problems and conditions has soared by more than 60 per cent in just three years.

There has been an equally sharp rise in the number of adults admitted to hospitals with alcohol-related conditions.

The increases have been disclosed by hospital trusts following a request made by the Kent Messenger Group under the Freedom of Information Act.

Our analysis of the figures show that in 2002-2003, hospitals in Kent admitted an average of 13 under-18s per month. In 2003-2004, that rose to 15 a month. But in 2004-2005, that increased still further to 22 a month.

The number of adults admitted to hospitals across Kent with alcohol related conditions rose from an average of 225 a month in 2002-2003 to 374 a month in 2004-2005.

The East Kent NHS Trust, which covers the William Harvey Hospital, the QEQM Hospital in Margate and the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, recorded the biggest increases.

The trust saw teenage admissions rise from 90 in 2002-2003 to 154 in 2004-2005.

It also recorded the biggest increase in adult admissions, which rose from 1,828 in 2002-2003 - an average of 152 a month - to 3,199 in 2004-2005 - an average of 266 a month.

The Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust saw under-18 admissions treble from nine in 2002-2003 to 30 in 2004-2005. It also saw adult admissions nearly double, rising from 254 in 2002-2003 to 468 in 2004-2005.

The Maidstone NHS Trust, covering the Kent and Sussex Hospital, the Maidstone Hospital and Pembury Hospital, saw no significant change in the number of teenage admissions over the three-year period.

But there was a more marked increase in adult admissions. In 2002-2003, there were 512 adult admissions but that rose to 726 in 2004-2005.

Many pubs, bars and restaurants in Kent are exploiting new legislation allowing them to open longer and opponents claim that it will encourage more under-age drinking and health problems.

Thanet South MP Dr Steve Ladyman, a former Labour health minister, denied that Government plans for 24-hour licensing would make things worse.

"These figures indicate exactly why we need this new law. If we carry on with the existing legislation, drink problems will get worse and worse.

"We want a new culture where people do not have to rush to drink several pints just before last orders are called. Our legislation will remove the kind of things that lead to binge drinking."

But Gravesham Tory MP Adam Holloway said: "It would be wrong to blame the Government for people drinking more but given the rise in problems from drinking, does it really make sense in 24-hour licensing?"