BRITAIN: A morbidly obese boy of eight was allowed to stay with his family yesterday after a three-hour child protection conference repeatedly warned his mother about the diet she had allowed him to follow.
Connor McCreaddie who still weighs 89kg (12½ stone) after an intensive slimming exercise since Christmas, will not go into care as social services on North Tyneside had warned he might.
His mother Nicola McKeown (35), of Wallsend, accepted a formal agreement with the local safeguarding children's board which insists on rigorous measures to reduce the boy's weight.
The highly unusual step of considering removing him from his home on obesity grounds was raised as a last resort under the local authority's legal duty of care.
A statement issued for the board by North Tyneside, after the case conference broke up last night, said: "We have had a useful discussion during which all agencies and the family confirmed that the priority in this matter is the eight-year-old boy.
"The board was able to confirm that its hope and ambition is to enable this child to remain with his family. We have made a formal agreement with the family to safeguard and promote the child's welfare."
Ms McKeown, who has two children, welcomed the agreement. "I think it's in everyone's best interests that Connor stays at home with me. I'm glad everyone is now taking an interest in him."
Connor had slipped into a lifestyle of eating constantly and taking so little exercise that he was regularly sick after walking to school, where he was bullied.
He has broken four beds and five bicycles and refused fruit in favour of crisps, chips and buttered toast until his recent diet.