A MOTHER whose disabled son lost his £3,000 life savings on a 'free' online game has called for a clampdown on the way the industry is run.

In the week a British teenager won £900,000 playing Fortnite, Susie Breare is worried other youngsters are at risk.

Susie's 22-year-old son Michael has cerebral palsy, complex epilepsy, autism, learning difficulties and a cognitive ability of a seven-year-old child.

But, after suffering a seizure during a family holiday in Turkey, he was restricted to his bedroom and played a game called Hidden Artifacts, little realising that every time he clicked to a new page he was being charged through iTunes.

Susie said: "Michael lost that money in just two weeks. He is distraught and doesn't know what he did wrong.

"When you first start Hidden Artifacts, it comes across as an educational game for four-year-olds and upwards."

Susie believed the game was free to play but you had to enter card details to get started.

She said: "However, he was being charged for extra features once the game started.

"That money was in his account to help him pay his way through life. He has just moved from an epilepsy specialist unit into assisted support living.

"I can't put a parental control on the iPad because he would be left with nothing to watch. He wouldn't be able to watch Youtube or follow sport.

"It was a virtual reality game and he thought he was using virtual reality money."

Susie, from Yarmouth, has spoken to Island MP Bob Seely, who said he would bring the issue up in Parliament. She said: "I've spoken to Bob Seely this week and he is passionate about this and said he will be bringing it up in Parliament.

"iTunes have been very good about it and have reimbursed a fraction of what he spent, but I tried contacting the game's designers with no joy.

"Parents need to know that their children are gambling on these games, not gaming."