Children should only be allowed two snacks of 100 calories or less a day, in a bid to tackle spiralling obesity rates, health officials say.

Public Health England (PHE) urged parents to clamp down on “a grazing culture,” as research found half of children’s sugar intake is being consumed between meals.

The average child eats at least three snacks a day, the data shows - which can take up at least one third of their daily recommended calorie allowance.

As a result, one in three children are overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, NHS data shows.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE said “the erosion of meal times” meant children were snacking throughout the day, fuelling Britain’s obesity crisis.