'Neglected' children treated for eczema

Three young malnourished children, allegedly neglected by their parents, are in hospital, being treated for rampant eczema.

Their parents had been drinking and partying at their Lower Hutt home for two days before residents of the street phoned police, who discovered the children living in dire conditions last Friday.

The children were often seen out on the street unsupervised and residents were concerned they could be hit by a car or drown in a nearby river.

Police found nine children at the home, which was stocked with little food. Four of the children who lived there had been sleeping rough on a mattress in the lounge.

They were allegedly malnourished and suffering from poor hygiene, police said.

Child, Youth and Family has confirmed it had had dealings with the family previously.

Yesterday a spokesman confirmed the agency had temporary custody of six children and was "completing a safety assessment" of three others.

Police confirmed yesterday that three children - aged 2, 3 and 4 - were being treated in hospital for serious eczema. A fourth child, aged 7 months, had been assessed, but was not admitted. Their mother, 22, and father, 25, were arrested on Thursday and charged with the neglect of their four children.

The pair, who are in a de facto relationship, were granted interim name suppression when they appeared in the Lower Hutt District Court yesterday.

They were remanded in custody by consent to appear again next week.

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'Neglected' children treated for eczema