THE NHS is urging parents to protect their children from flu as their little ones head back to school.

Last year, 60 per cent of two and three year olds in Brighton and Hove failed to get a child-friendly nasal spray flu vaccine.

The NHS said 12 children were taken to hospital in Brighton and Hove last year due to flu, and is encouraging parents to make sure their children’s flu vaccination consent forms are returned swiftly.

The cost of giving NHS medical care to children with flu was more than £42,000 last year. For more information visit www.nhs.uk