How can it be so crap?! It doesn't seem to account for anything other than normal, regular circumstances.

My predicament :

I am 25. I have never been abroad in my adult life, as such I haven't applied for a passport. I have a child passport, but that expired in 2001. Over the years it has gradually become more and more fucked, and is now totally ruined, though you can still see the photo, the information page, and all the information on it.

But nowhere in their massive book of rules and advice or on their website does it account for the situation where you are an adult, but are wanting to renew a damaged child passport.

Does anyone know what the procedure is in this case?

By the information I have I am assuming the normal rules for renewing a damaged passport, and that I just send the old passport, get a countersignature, pay £72 and it should be fine. But it really doesn't make this clear.

Anyone?