Cough remedies taken off shelves

The medicines, specifically marketed for use by children under two, are being removed from open sale amid fears that toddlers could suffer accidental overdoses.

Meanwhile, the labelling on dozens of other cough and cold remedies is being changed after new advice was issued by drug safety watchdogs.

But the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB), which represents the makers of the medicines, stressed that they were not being "banned" for use by older children and were still safe when used as directed.

PAGB executive director Sheila Kelly said the action was being taken because of advice from the Commission on Human Medicines to remove the doses for children under two years from the labels of many cold and cough remedies.

Ms Kelly added: "Companies are taking this action voluntarily because the well-being of babies and young children is paramount. Parents should not be concerned that they have harmed their children in any way if they have given them cold remedies in the past.

"Many of the products have been on the market for over 40 years - they are safe when used as recommended and can still be used for children over two."

Labelling on products containing antihistamines, decongestants, cough suppressants and expectorants will now be changed over the next six months so that they are only recommended for children aged more than two.

Parents are now being advised to give children aged under 24 months paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower their temperature if they have a cold. Simple cough syrups containing glycerol, honey and lemon can also be given, as well as vapour rubs and inhalant decongestants.

The six products previously marketed for use by children under two, but which have now been taken off open sale, are: Asda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup, Boots Chesty Cough Syrup One Year Plus, Boots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus One Year Plus, Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup, CalCough Chesty and Bell's Children's Chesty Cough.