Cough and cold remedies will be removed from pharmacy shelves and placed behind the counter today after safety fears for toddlers.

The Government’s medicine watchdog is issuing an alert this morning amid concerns that parents might be giving their children potentially fatal overdoses.

More than 100 products will be affected by the review. Some will be banned, in effect, for children under two, while parents will be told not to exceed recommended dosages for children under six.

The Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency confirmed last night that a handful of remedies would be permanently removed from sale for toddlers. At least 100 others would be placed behind the counter until they can be given warning labels.

A spokesman for the agency said: “Over time, these medicines are not as effective. Parents tend to give their children more and there is potential for overdose. It’s a precautionary measure — it’s not an emergency.”

The alert centres on 12 ingredients. At least five deaths of British children under two have been linked to cough medicines and more than 100 serious cases of suspected adverse reactions have been reported. A similar warning was introduced in the United States in January.

It was reported last night that six products aimed directly at children under two, including Boots Chesty Cough Syrup 1 Year Plus and Asda Children’s Chesty Cough Syrup, will be removed from open sale but may still be supplied by pharmacists for older children. None of the remedies has been shown to be dangerous when used correctly.

The agency said that parents would be encouraged to give their children simple cough remedies, such as honey and lemon mixtures.

Manufacturers and pharamacists had been consulted about the new guidelines. Until items were repackaged, parents would be handed leaflets outlining appropriate dosage.

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