One-in-five struggle to fit into clothes for Communion

IT’S a huge day in any child’s life. But First Communion has suddenly become an even bigger event for all the wrong reasons.

Soaring levels of childhood obesity in Ireland mean one-in-five children can no longer fit into regular-sized Holy Communion outfits.

Irish retailers say eight and nine-year-olds are now so fat they have had to stock hundreds of extra made-to-order oversized dresses and trousers.