The number of Ayrshire children with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning has risen by 400% in two years.

According to freedom of information requests by campaign group Project SHOUT, the number of cases involving under 18s rose from two 2014/15 to ten in 2016/17.

The number of overall cases remained consistent at 20.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel does not burn properly, usually from badly fitted or poorly maintained appliances.

These appliances were blamed for the rise, with 80% of people with carbon monoxide alarms having no idea if they still work.

Common sources of the gas include boilers, gas hobs, fires and barbecues with carbon monoxide leaks are hard to detect - you cannot see, smell or taste the gas.

Children are much more susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning. They process carbon monoxide differently to adults and are more severely affected by it, as well as showing signs of the poisoning sooner.

The poisoning is also made more difficult to detect, owing to it often being mistaken for the flu or a cold, as common symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea and feeling unwell.