Ref. 27921-90IT MAY seem like harmless fun, but Swindon mother Julie Hayward knows the dangers of underage drinking only too well.

Last year, her teenage daughter Amanda was nearly killed when she ran in front of a car after drinking to celebrate the end of the school term.

Now, Mrs Hayward wants to spread the message that drinking is not cool or grown up, but potentially dangerous.

Mrs Hayward, a nurse who lives in Kennet Avenue, Greenmeadow, is offering to visit schools and youth groups to warn youngsters of the dangers of underage boozing.

Amanda, 16, has still not fully recovered from the accident, which happened in Croft Road, Old Town, last July.

She had drunk two-and-a-half bottles of a vodka based alcopop at a friend's house on her way home from Commonweal School.

Amanda, who is now studying A-levels at Swindon College, shattered her pelvis in two places, fractured her left arm and broke her thumb.

She still struggles with back pain and cannot write for long periods because of her damaged thumb.

Amanda said: "I have no recollection of being hit, the first thing I can remember is waking up in the ambulance.

"I am just glad I'm still alive. I don't get drunk anymore, and I would warn other teenagers not to.

"For most teenagers, drinking is seen as being cool and grown up. It's the next step on from smoking. But I nearly lost my life because of it, and my message is don't do it."

Mrs Hayward had no idea her daughter was binge drinking.

She said: "I wasn't nave enough to think that she wasn't drinking at all, but I didn't realise she was getting really drunk.

"The trouble is that youngsters don't realise that alcopops are very alcoholic.

"They need to be better educated about the dangers.

"I think youngsters will take more notice of someone who has had real life experience of the dangers of drinking than from leaflets and talks by teachers."

Earlier this month, the Evening Advertiser reported how Julie and Amanda had spoken out about underage drinking as part of a nationwide campaign by trading standards officials to crackdown on shops which will sell alcohol to under-18s.

In October, trading standards officers at Swindon Council used underage volunteers to test how easy it was for minors to buy alcohol in Swindon.

Six out of the eight shops visited served alcohol without asking for proof of age.

Schools or groups who would like Mrs Hayward to give them a talk can call her on 01793 694591.

tlal@newswilts.co.uk