A WORRIED mum has spoken out about a dangerous craze that has left her daughter in hospital with a nasty burn.

Ebony Worthington, aged 10, suffered the injury after taking part in the "aerosol challenge", in which children spray deodorant on to their skin from close range for as long as they can.

Ebony grabbed a deodorant can from the bathroom and sprayed it on to her hand for a couple of minutes.

The Ferns Primary Academy pupil, from Farnworth, almost needed a skin graft because the burn she suffered was so severe, but she will have to stay indoors for a week to avoid infection.

Mum Kirsty Heathcote said: "It has all come from these Youtube videos — I have watched a few and there are some that really go wrong.

"After she had done it, Ebony came downstairs and put her hand on the freezer and said she had banged it.

"An hour later, she came back and showed me the mark on her hand — it was white and a perfect circle.

"The next day, her school phoned me to say that they were very concerned — the mark had started to swell and had gone numb.

"It looked infected and the hospital told us it was a bad burn, so they contacted the burns unit at Manchester Children's Hospital.

"At first they thought she might need a skin graft, which would have been awful — I hated the thought of her being in so much pain because of this silly challenge.

"Fortunately, she just needed it bandaged, but she was very close to needing a graft. She was very lucky."

Ms Heathcote added: "It's a nightmare. I can't believe that something this simple can cause so much damage.

"I keep the deodorant in the bathroom and I have never thought that it should be hidden away because it is a danger.

"Unfortunately, some kids have seen this craze on Youtube and it has just spread from there.

"They don't realise the seriousness of what it can do to you, and neither did I.

"Ebony has no feeling in the top of her hand at the moment, so we just have to hope that is not long-term.

"She does gymnastics and I don't want this to jeopardise the things that she enjoys."

Ebony's friends and classmates have been warned not to try the dangerous challenge again, and it is hoped that the 10-year-old's injury will heal in four to six weeks.

Her mum added: "I have been to the school and they told me that every teacher has spoken to their classes about it. Hopefully none of them will try it again.

"Parents need to be aware of what their children are watching on Youtube. Every child is seeing these kind of videos now, but they don't understand the dangers.

"This has been awful for me, but my mum has been amazing and hasn't left Ebony's side.

"Ebony has been so brave and she has definitely realised how silly she was and the consequences of her actions.

"She is a very bright girl, so we are all surprised that she would do this. It just goes to show how easily influenced any child can be.

"I worry about what the next challenge will be. The next one could fatally harm someone."