Ninety-four per cent of Brits believe that children's healthcare should be a priority for the NHS, a survey has revealed.

Leading paediatricians have called on the Government to put child health high on the agenda in light of the results of the public poll.

Of the 2,118 UK adults who took the online questionnaire, 64% said they supported a ban on advertising food high in fat, sugar and salt, on TV before the 9pm watershed.

The top three health issues that people said should be prioritised were reducing child death rates, reducing rates of childhood cancer and ensuring consistent health service provision for children and young people across the country.

Fifty-nine per cent showed support for policies to help tackle obesity, with 69% saying concerns around children's mental health should be addressed.

The poll, conducted by ComRes and commissioned by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, coincides with the college's Child Health Debate, being held in London.

Those surveyed also said that education that furthers child health should play a greater role in schools.

Nine in 10 adults said they supported the recommendation to teach children how to cook and about the nutritional value of food in order to improve child health, while 80 % said they were behind introducing compulsory personal, social and health education (PSHE) in primary and secondary schools.

Dr Hilary Cass, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "We often see policies hitting the headlines that are targeted at the ageing population - increased funding for dementia research and additional dementia training for NHS workers are among the pledges that have been made in recent weeks.

"But whilst caring for our ageing population is important, it shouldn't mean that children's health falls to the wayside.

"This poll shows that the voting public care as much about child health as they do care for the elderly.

"Many health issues experienced later in life can be triggered during childhood. We need to better support children from infant to child, through to teen and into adulthood - we'll only be able to do this by making small yet significant policy changes directly targeted to meet their needs."

The poll further revealed that 58% supported the national speed limit in built- up areas being reduced to 20mph in an attempt to reduce deaths from road traffic accidents.

Dr Hilary Cass continued: "Let's face the facts. The UK has the worst child mortality rate in Western Europe, has the highest rate of childhood obesity and has an estimated 850,000 children and young people living with a serious mental health condition - 76% of five to 15-year-olds with anxiety or diagnosable depression are not in contact with mental health services.

"These are figures that are going to see little improvement if bold policies are not put in place to directly address them."