A 12-year-old girl became Britain's youngest female drink-driver when she stole her father's car after downing beer and alcopops.

The pint-sized youngster was almost twice the legal limit when she took her father's Vauxhall Corsa after drinking at a family party in Walcot, Swindon, on Christmas Day.

Yesterday, a youth court at Newbury, Berkshire, was

told how she had drunk two bottles of Becks lager and a vodka-based drink before getting into the automatic car and driving off.

The girl, who knew how to drive because she had a quad bike, set off on a 35-mile journey to see her niece, taking back roads so she would not be spotted.

Her horrified father realised she and the car were missing and dialled 999.

Just eight miles into her journey, a policeman spotted the stolen car, which was travelling along the B4006 towards Aldbourne at 25mph, "swerving" all over the road and "bouncing" off the kerb.

The girl, of Thatcham, was taken to a police station when a breath test showed she had

65 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Magistrates refused to lift an anonymity order placed on naming the girl, because they felt it was not in the public interest to reveal her identity.

The girl, now aged 13, was also given a 12-month supervision order and ordered to pay £45 costs. She admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a licence or insurance and driving with excess alcohol.