Parents who refuse to let their children out to play are producing a "battery-farmed" generation, says a minister.

Kevin Brennan warned that these youngsters would never become resilient and would be unable to cope with risk.

The Families Minister cited figures showing that more than a third of children are never let out to play.

Launching a child safety action plan, he said that primary pupils should be allowed to walk or cycle to school and the public should accept that young people have a right to gather in groups on the street.

He added: "We can all sometimes as parents get a little bit focused on wrapping our children in cotton wool and it's not good for them to do that all the time. We have to educate people about the real risks they face."

He gave the example of a girl he met who cycles to primary school in Battersea, South London, every day.

She was growing up to be "remarkably confident", perhaps because she was learning to cope with risks.

"One of the things you can do to stop children being involved in traffic accidents is to never allow them out," he said.

"Of course, that will produce a generation of battery-farmed children."

He said the Government is building more play areas and planning a communications campaign to warn families of the dangers children actually face.

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