Ref. 31151-87SWINDON mums say that children are getting far too much pocket money.

The Evening Advertiser conducted a local opinion poll after a national survey revealed that Britain's seven to 14-year olds got a total of more than £1.5 billion a year in pocket money and other handouts.

Children aged 15 and 16 get a combined income of £1.6 billion from pocket money, handouts and part-time jobs.

It was found that younger children are most likely to spend their money on toys, games, sweets and crisps and the older ones will splash out on clothes, music and toiletries.

The survey also discovered that 83 per cent of seven to 10-year-olds receive an average £3.10 a week and an additional £140 a year on birthdays and at Christmas.

The percentage of 11 to 14-year-olds who receive pocket money is slightly lower but they get at least £7.30 a week and an additional £175 a year.

According to a poll of 6,000 children, grandparents are also the source of money.

More than half of the seven to 14-year-olds questioned said they regularly received financial gifts from their grandparents.