A couple who have campaigned to alert people to the dangers of aspirin have welcomed Government proposals to bar the sale of it to under-16s.

Clifford and Audrey Harrington have waged a 20-year-campaign to warn people about the drug and its possible links to a rare condition called Reye's Syndrome, which can cause brain and liver damage and can even be fatal.

Mrs Harrington, Witham Town Council clerk, and Mr Harrington formed the British Reye's Foundation after their daughter Katie, 11, died from the condition after taking aspirin in 1981.

Mr Harrington, who was made an MBE for his part in the campaign, said: "This is a step in the right direction. We've been campaigning for it for many years.

"Both of my daughters had flu at the same time and our doctor said to give her aspirin but wrote a prescription for antibiotics for my youngest daughter who also had flu.

"Katie went downhill and died, where as Nicky got better and survived."

Mr Harrington said the American government had advised people in 1979 the drug should not be used by anyone under 19.

And in Germany, the government has ruled it should only be taken by young adults.

He added when his daughter first died, he found it very hard to get information on Reye's Syndrome.

Published Friday November 15, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette