FEARS that vulnerable children are slipping through the net have been voiced by a leading health professional. Barbara Sharples, a non-executive director of the Community Healthcare Bolton Trust Board, expressed concerns that a large number of emotionally at risk children are failing to turn up for expert treatment.

Figures revealed at a Trust Board meeting showed how a high number of children are failing to turn up for vital psychology counselling.

Mrs Sharples said: "These are the most vulnerable young people in society. It's difficult to find out who is helping them."

The Trust Board also heard how these children are often excluded from schools.

Twenty appointments were lost through children failing to turn up in September, according to figures released to the Trust Board.

Mary Cooper, a non-executive director of the Trust, said that the situation was "hugely complex".

Mrs Cooper said: "Bolton is very creative in looking at how we can improve this situation.

"We are trying to reduce the 'did not attend' rates which is difficult to do. But Bolton stands at less than the national average.

"But these are a very volatile group of people."