Children as young as TWELVE caught drink driving in Greater Manchester

Children as young as 12 have been caught drink driving in Greater Manchester, police records show.

The revelation comes as data has been released showing an average of 1,000 under-18s nationally have been convicted of drink-driving per year since 2008.

The statistics showed there were an average of five drink-drivers under 18 caught each week across the country since 2008.

And Greater Manchester was the worst English region, with 409 under-18s caught drunk behind the wheel in the six years from 2008 to 2013.

Based on responses from 43 police forces following Freedom of Information Act requests, the figures covered the number of under-18 drink-drivers caught in the time period. Every one of the 43 forces had apprehended under-18 drink-drivers during the six years.

In June, Greater Manchester Police released footage showing the shocking effects of drink driving.

The clips were recorded by on-board CCTV cameras on police cars and were released by Greater Manchester Police as they launched a crackdown.