EIGHT per cent of children, aged just 11 and 12, use sunbeds - some every day on their way home from school, a disturbing study has revealed.
Researchers carried out an in-depth survey which found Merseyside tanning salons were offering children's parties in their shops as well as allowing mothers to take their babies into the booths while they went on the sunbeds.
They also discovered youngsters were putting themselves at risk of eye cancer by refusing to wear goggles because they did not want white patches on their faces.
Last night, politicians and health campaigners demanded a change in the law to ban children from using tanning salons.
And HealthIink, which carried out the research, is now developing a course for schools to warn pupils about the risks.
Philomena Zilinski, project co-ordinator for the Knowsley charity, said: "We surveyed young people because we wanted to find out why they were using sunbeds and how many times a week.
"Some were going in every day after school and many were using them four times a week.
"We have heard of young mums going into tanning salons and taking their babies in the prams in to the sunbed room with them.
"People don't seem to realise the health risks.
"The problem is that schoolchildren can afford to use them. Parents don't have to give consent.
"The top reason they gave for wanting a tan is that they thought it made them look better followed by thinking it made them look slimmer.
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