SCHOOL children from the region delivered a petition to Downing Street last week, calling for tougher regulations around alcohol marketing.

During their visit to the capital, a group of students presented the petition – signed by more than 6,000 North Easterners – and discussed their thoughts on alcohol marketing with MPs in the House of Commons.

The group - made up of young people from Darlington’s Hummersknott Academy and Boldon School in Tyne and Wear – were in London as part of the See What Sam Sees campaign.

The campaign - run by Balance, the North East Alcohol Office – aims to highlight the issues around alcohol advertising, with the organisation claiming that children grow up in a pro-alcohol environment due to a “constant barrage of alcohol marketing”.

Colin Shevills, Director of Balance, said: “A recent European study showed that 10-15 year olds see ten per cent more alcohol ads on TV than adults and 50 per cent more alcopop specific advertising than adults.

"We believe, along with thousands of people in the North East, that more effective controls are needed to ensure that alcohol is marketed responsibly - and in particular that alcohol marketing messages only reach adults.”

During their trip, the students addressed MPs including David Milliband, about their concerns and asked them to consider restrictions on alcohol-related advertising and sponsorship.

The event was sponsored by Jenny Chapman MP. She said: “These young people were an absolute credit to the town of Darlington and the North-East and I was really impressed with the way in which they articulated their views and made their opinions known."