CHILDREN as young as 12 are turning to crime to satisfy their craving for alcohol, a shocking BEN report reveals tonight.

The youngsters are plundering local stores and off-licences stealing bottles and cans of booze -- often by the crate-load.

Then they bring misery and heartache to residents throughout the town in drunken acts of vandalism.

Alcohol abuse among the young is widespread throughout Bolton and has been highlighted as a particular problem in Westhoughton over recent weeks.

The BEN revealed last night that a gang of up to 30 drunken teenagers rampaged through Westhoughton on Thursday night breaking windows and throwing bricks and coins at the police.

The same gang of young vandals are also believed to have been responsible for an attack on Westhoughton Library two hours later when six windows were smashed.

The outbreaks of violence and attacks on property and homes of local residents has prompted Westhoughton Council leader, Cllr David Wilkinson, to call for a ban on drinking on the streets in a bid to combat the young drunks who are blighting the area.

Only last month the Evening News revealed that rogue traders -- "bootleggers" -- are openly selling bottles of alcohol to children from the back of vans on the streets of Bolton. Some bottles of booze are being sold for as little as 25p.

The problem of under-age drinking throughout the borough continues despite a police crackdown which resulted in the seizure of 40 gallons of alcohol from children in the Westhoughton, Horwich and Astley Bridge areas over just three weekends. The haul of confiscated booze included whisky, fortified lager, wine and home-made alcoholic cocktails.

An Evening News investigation tonight reveals that children, as young as 12, are hitting the bottle with some turning to crime by stealing drink from shops.

Sgt Peter Sellers of Astley Bridge Police said: "Ninety per cent of parents are unaware of the drinking habits of their children and the wanton mayhem and vandalism they are nightly engaged in."

Concerned youth workers say children now see drinking as a "fashionable" pursuit.