A maths textbook has been criticised for including a question suggesting children like to drink blood.

The Key Stage Two book aims to prepare 11-year-olds for their SATs and one question includes blood in a list of 'children's favourite drinks'.

A concerned mother was horrified when she saw her 11-year-old daughter completing the maths question and says it could encourage pupils to try blood, which could carry viruses.

A maths textbook that includes a question that suggests children like to drink blood has been criticised by a concerned mother. Pictured, the question lists 'children's favourite drinks' and says four children out of 30 like to drink blood

The question reads: 'This pictogram shows the favourite drinks of a group of pupils.

'How many fewer pupils said blood was their favourite drink than said milk.'

According to the pictogram, four pupils out of 30 said blood was their favourite drink.

The mother said her daughter, who attends Richmond Hill School in Aspatria, Cumbria, was given the book to practice with at Christmas.

She said: 'I was helping her with the questions and I was quite shocked when it was talking about blood.

'I think she was quite shocked and then I thought it could have children think its ok to drink blood.

'I can't see how it's funny at all. I just think it's crazy, all the blood born viruses, it's just quite grim.

'It's the normal book they give out. My other children have had similar books when they were studying for their SATs, but they must have been a different edition.

'I just want some comment on why they think it's appropriate as it's aimed at children who are nine, ten and 11 years old.

Publishers CGP said the tongue-in-cheek question was part of the book's 'fun and friendly style'. Richmond Hill Primary School said they thought the book was attempting to keep up with 'youth culture'

'My oldest daughter was there when we were doing it.

'She thought it was quite funny, but my 11-year-old didn't.

'She's kind of forgotten about it now. I didn't want to make much of it, she's quite sensible.

'I just said: 'You wouldn't want to drink blood, would you' and she said no.

'But maybe some other children might be tempted to try it.

'There's quite a lot of gothic type shows on at the moment.'

But Richmond Hill Primary School took the question in good humour.

Headmistress Helen Ford said: 'I understand the parental concern and I will be contacting the company, who need to address this.

'However, I am also aware that the company have used a quirky sense of humour in odd questions at times, to engage pupils by tapping into the current "youth" culture.'

A spokesman for publishers CGP said: 'Our Primary School books have a fun and friendly style, and we include some jokes along the way to make things easier to remember.'