DOCTORS at Princess Alexandra Hospital are calling on parents to take more care when their children play on the garden trampoline.

The hospital's accident and emergency team has noticed a steady increase in the number of children they treat for trampoline-related injuries. Last month alone 15 children attended the hospital after being hurt falling off a trampoline.

The trend mimics the increase in trampoline-related injuries noted in America in the mid-1990s, causing doctors to advocate a ban on trampolines in some areas.

There has been a rapid increase in the number of trampolines sold in the UK in the last few years, and garden trampolines are now readily available in most DIY stores.

Experts estimate that falling off a trampoline can have the same impact on a child as being thrown out of a first floor window.

Dr Keith Harvey, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Harlow hospoital, said: "With any new toy or activity there will undoubtedly be injuries, however, this latest trend has caused greater concern than usual.

"We would strongly encourage parents to follow the trampoline safety guidelines to help minimise the number of serious, and often long-term, injuries over the summer months.

"In short trampolines are the new skateboard and can cause serious injury to both upper-lower limbs and on occasions the spine."

Parents are being urged to follow simple guidelines, which include only allowing one person on the trampoline at a time, supervising play whenever possible and ensuring the padded mat at the edge of the trampoline is in good condition.

Trampolines should not be placed on hard ground, and the manufacturer's safety instructions should always be followed.

More detailed safety instructions are available from the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents guide available at www.rospa.com.