BOLTON could be thrown back to the dark ages, with children dying by the thousands from diseases such as measles, a medical expert has warned. Dr Robert Aston, one of the country's leading authorities on immunisation, fears an epidemic of the sometimes deadly and often crippling diseases mumps, measles and rubella could soon become a frightening reality because many parents are being fed false scares about jabs. The Bolton communicable disease consultant, who is a member of the National Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation - an official body advising the government - is pleading with parents to make a stand to protect their children in the wake of the latest MMR scare stories.

Dr Aston has blasted widespread "scaremongering" in the national media following what he called "unsubstantiated" research by a team, led by Andrew Wakefield, which linked autism and bowel disorder with the MMR jab.

Dr Aston, who spearheaded the 1994 schools campaign which thwarted a national epidemic, is appealing for GPs, health professionals and parents to "be sensible". He is regarded as a foremost authority on vaccination and is often called on to give the medical expert's view on national radio and TV.

The former GP is now seriously concerned that years of work to drive home the message could be in jeopardy because the "scaremongering" could cause parents to boycott vaccination for their children.

He remembers the 1970s Whooping Cough crisis with personal regret.

Dr Aston said: "I was a GP and there was a widespread scare about the vaccination similar to today.

"I listened to the scaremongering and as a result I didn't have my children vaccinated. They all contracted the disease along with £800,000 other people in Britain. And more than 70 died from it.

"There has already been a one per cent drop nationally in parents stopping their children taking the MMR vaccine. If this falls further then we will not be able to contain the disease.

"It will result in children dying or suffering."

Dr Aston's comments come as Sir Kenneth Calman, Britain's Chief Medical Officer, dismissed the Wakefield research connecting the MMR jab with autism and bowel disorders.

Sir Kenneth said: "Independent experts and I have seen the published research and we are not convinced that there is any link. No evidence has been published that demonstrates that MMR plays a part in autism."

Researchers want the MMR jab to be given in three separate injections - but medical experts say this is an unnecessary abuse of a child.

Dr Aston is now urging parents to form their own pro-MMR group to oppose those who attempt to promote the anti-jab message.

Dr Aston said: "It would be good to hear about all the positive things that immunisation has brought about.

"Such as, immunisation has completely eradicated smallpox; tetanus in children and adults is a thing of the past; Britain is soon to declare a 'freedom of poliomyelitis and measles certificate' and children in this country no longer die by the thousands of slow suffocation or sudden death from diphtheria.

"We have been a victim of our own success. People no longer remember the distress and death caused by disease. But there is the danger that this could be brought back if parents do not immunise."

"Immunisation is the best thing that has come out of medical science," Dr Aston said: "I am often accused of having a vested interest. That is not true. I do not get paid for my work into immunisation. I just want to stop children suffering."

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