A MOTHER has issued a warning to other parents after her sons developed lumpy rashes from paddling in Pickmere Lake.

Charlene Stuart visited the doctors with Arnold, five, and Harrison, 10, where it was revealed they had been in contact with microscopic parasites present in duck faeces.

Charlene said Arnold’s condition was so bad that the parasites invaded his immune system and required him to take antibiotics and antihistamines.

“The boys were only in the water for half an hour when my youngest came running out in tears saying that he was itchy,” she said.

“He had a red, lumpy rash and was in pain, so we rang the doctors, who said it was a swimmers itch caused by parasites in duck faeces.

“It should have gone away in within two days, but it came back worse than before, and because one of my sons is young his immune system can’t cope with it.”

Charlene is now hoping a sign can be put up to warn others of the dangers of using the lake, particularly for young children.

“The doctors said that if they had been swimming around in the main part of the lake they would have been OK as the parasites are only in the shallows,” she added.

“These are the areas that kids are more likely to go to paddle though, so there really should be a sign to warn people.

“The rash has ruined the kids' summer holidays, and I wouldn’t want any other young children to go through the same experience."