LITTLE Regan Barker has never been able to eat proper food because of a severe reaction to the taste, sight and smell of everyday meals.

Now the York parents of the four-year-old are hoping for a miracle solution which will allow their son to develop like his brothers and sisters.

Regan lives on a diet of milk, with just the occasional packet of crisps or biscuit.

The youngster, who lives with his parents, Tonya Barker and Darren Walker, and his five brothers and sisters, in Water Lane, Clifton, was unable to keep any milk down as a baby - a condition known as reflux - but when he was started on solid food the situation worsened.

Now if he sees someone else eating or smells food, whether it be on the street, in the car or in a shop, he vomits - sometimes up to five times a day.

Doctors say that Regan is getting sufficient calories and nutrients, but his teeth are starting to rot, he has mouth ulcers and he sometimes shakes.

He also suffers epilepsy and has sight problems, but it is not known if these conditions are related.

Tonya, 35, said: "His basic problem is he won't eat food, he just drinks milk, some juice and the odd biscuit.

"It's not that he doesn't like the taste - he's never tried it.

"He's small for his height, he has co-ordination problems and he has the shakes and now we are just stuck at a brick wall."

Regan has been through various tests, including barium X-rays, visits to an eating disorder centre and check-ups with a paediatrician and an epilepsy specialist.

Tonya said she was happy with his treatment, but wondered if there was anything else she should be doing to help him.

She said: "He can be sick at any time of the day, it just has to be a certain smell, he could wake up in the night and vomit, or be in the car.

"We have to be careful when we take him anywhere, and he can't sit with us when we are having a meal.

"I don't want to leave it too late."

Dr Clive Jones, an adviser to the YorkTest Laboratories in York, said Regan's behaviour could be psychological, physiological or behavioural and he would be willing to screen Regan for food allergies and intolerances. He said: "Stereotypical eating like this, which is repetitive, is not common, but it is not unheard of.

"I can understand his parents being terribly concerned, but milk is a pretty wholesome food and he's getting a good spread of nutrients."

The YorkTest Laboratories recently screened a five-year-old girl from Plymouth and found she was allergic to processed food.

Danielle Wills was now growing normally after her mum Pauline started making her meals from basic ingredients.

Updated: 08:42 Monday, September 02, 2002