JUNK food, fizzy drinks and a lack of exercise are causing an epidemic of childhood obesity, according to GPs.

Now health leaders have called for an emergency taskforce to be set up to tackle the issue amid fears the NHS will be completely overwhelmed by the soaring figures.

Just last month figures released by Public Health England found that 17 per cent of pupils in Year 6 in Tendring were classified as obese.

Julie Cuthbert, of Main Road, Dovercourt, has two grown-up children and one grandchild, she always cooked fresh meals for her family.

She said: “It's up to parents to provide proper food. It is not expensive to eat fresh home cooked food. Time is all that is needed . Your children are worth it.”

“You can buy fresh cheap it doesn't have to be organic . Just spare the time and cook,” she added.

The Royal College of General Practitioners and 11 other organisations signed a letter to the Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, calling for action.

Dr Richard Roope, RCGP Clinical Lead for Cancer said: “For the first time, we have a generation of patients who may predecease their parents."