The number of children being diagnosed with diabetes is soaring, it emerged last night.

Research shows that figures for under-fives with type one diabetes showed a five-fold increase between 1985 and 2004, while there was a doubling of the numbers of under-15s with the condition.

One theory for the huge rise is that young children are no longer exposed to as many infections as in previous decades because of better hygiene.

And scientists say that cleaner living conditions may be to blame.