He lives in Goole, East Yorkshire, which has the highest number of heroin related deaths per head of population in Britain.

The town, which has a population of only 18,000, suffered seven fatal overdoses in the past 12 months while an eighth victim, a boy of 17, only survived because of the skill of paramedics.

Overdose victims have included:

• Darren Walker, 26, who died in February 1998, leaving a three-year-old son.
  
• Gemma Wardle, 19, and her ex-boyfriend Glyn Stephens.
  
• Joanne Sugden, 26, who told friends she hated heroin but could not give it up.

Goole's Labour MP Ian Cawsey was told about the eight-year-old boy by a local GP while making a speech on drugs to a civil function in the town.

Goole MP Ian Cawsey: "I am shocked"

Mr Cawsey said: "A senior policeman was telling me about the drug problems in the area and he said that one of the things concerning him was the number of children who were involved in heroin.

"A local GP then informed me that the youngest addict he was treating was a boy of eight. Naturally I was very shocked, I think everyone must be."

A policeman who has worked in Goole for 25 years said: "When I first started there was a bit of cannabis around but now drugs, especially heroin, are everywhere."

He said he thought the eight-year-old's case was isolated but said they were several drug-dependent teenagers in the town.

Goole has been flooded with heroin by dealers from nearby Hull and Doncaster and a bag of "brown" heroin costs just £10. Humberside police have arrested 43 suspected dealers since April 1998.

Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien said the eight-year-old's addiction "graphically illustrated the tragedy of drug abuse".

He told the Sunday Mirror: "The Labour government will be tough on drug traffickers and tackle the causes of addiction.

"Social services are monitoring families with a history of drug abuse. Children at serious risk can be taken into care."

Mr O'Brien said: "The fightback against drugs is a battle for every citizen. Let us tackle this as a nation."