A MOTHER claims a chemist's blunder could have killed her baby.

A pharmacy has admitted it may have accidentally contaminated medicine for 18-month-old Zach Simpson with methadone, the drug used to treat heroin addicts.

Zach's mother, Jayne Simpson, 26, of Silksworth, Sunderland, took him to a health centre on Tuesday because he had an ear infection.

Ms Simpson then went to Edward Chaston chemists, in Vane Street, for antibiotics.

She said: "As soon as I got home, I shook the bottle and gave him a spoonful.

"The next thing I knew, two girls from the chemists were banging on the door.

"They said they'd given me the wrong medicine and took it away.

"Then they came back saying the bottle was contaminated and I should take Zach straight to hospital."

It is believed that someone at the chemist accidentally put the lid for a methadone bottle on to the antibiotics bottle when serving Ms Simpson and a heroin addict at the same time.

Symptoms of methadone poisoning include vomiting, confusion and breathing difficulties.

Ms Simpson took the toddler to a hospital for heart and breathing tests after the incident.

A spokesman for Edward Chaston said: "During the dispensing of an antibiotic liquid, which necessitates the removal of the tamper-proof seal and click-lock to add water, there may have been a mix-up with another top which was on the bench at the same time.

"The other top may have been contaminated with methadone so, in theory, a very small amount of methadone may have contaminated the antibiotic."

Ms Simpson said she wanted an inquiry by health officials to ensure that no other child was put at risk.