A major new research study has shown that children in Britain and Ireland are more likely to suffer from asthma than youngsters from almost anywhere else in the world. Asthma affects a staggering two million people in the United Kingdom. 9,500 (nine per cent) of children in Bradford and Airedale below the age of 14 have asthma. We take a closer look at how the condition affects children in the Bradford district.

Mum Julie Metcalfe's lunchtime visit to her son's school this week wasn't to take him his sandwiches - it was give him life-saving treatment.

Ryan Metcalfe is only seven but for most of his young life he has been a victim of asthma.

Every day he has to use a nebuliser to help his breathing and this week Julie has been going into Aire View Infant School, Silsden, to give him his treatment which is usually done by a school assistant.

"Lots of his friends have asthma. It is very worrying. These latest findings do not surprise me in the least," said Julie who is the founder and chairperson of the Airedale Child Asthma Support Group.

Ryan started being ill when he was just nine weeks old.

"It was May and he started crying and gasping for breath. It was really frightening," said Julie of Kent Avenue, Silsden.

Today, Ryan still spends time in hospital and misses his schooling.

"He wakes up every night coughing and crying. It is very distressing and disrupts family life,'' added Julie whose grandmother, mother, sister and niece suffer from asthma.

She is convinced that the disease is cause by pollution.

"The Aire Valley is one of the worst areas. One theory is that the pollution from the Lancashire mills comes across the Pennines and settles in the valley," said Julie.

The support group have raised more than £18,000 for equipment for Airedale Hospital and they are now trying to get cash to buy portable nebulisers which can be charged through a battery, enabling families to go on holidays abroad or go caravanning or camping.

The headmistress at Aire View Infants School, Mrs Vicky Bottomley, said she was surprised at the numbers of youngsters with asthma when she arrived at the 270-pupil school five years ago.

"We have a lot of children in all classes who have to use inhalers, though there are none as bad as Ryan. They are all very sensible and their inhalers are kept safe until they are needed. We have a class assistant who usually looks after Ryan but she has left for another job so his mum has been coming in until we get a replacement next week," she added.

Anyone wanting to get in touch with the group can contact Julie at 01535 653964.

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