[bbfan1991]

Three-year-old Leo Barnett has been banned by his mother from eating carrots – because they turn him orange.

His tango complexion is caused by a medical condition called hyper-beta carotenemia – and he is thought to be the only person in Britain to have it.

Leo’s body cannot digest carotene, which is found in many fruits and vegetables, so he has been placed on a strict diet.

‘His liver can’t get rid of it, so it builds up and turns him orange,’ said mum Angie Barnett, 40, of Odiham, Hampshire.

‘It means the stuff that’s really good for you he can’t eat – except cauliflower.’

Passers-by often complement the youngster on his lovely tan, but his mother thinks it's more The Only Way is Essex than a healthy glow.

'We used to call him The Tango Kid and Oompa Loompa because of his colour,' she said.

'He looks like someone from The Only Way Is Essex when they have overdone it on the fake tan.'

Leo has to take Vitamin A drops daily to keep his immune system healthy, but his doctors essentially know very little about the rare condition.

His mother hopes that sharing his story may help her to find out more information about the illness.