Children as young as 11 have been cautioned for assault in the Braintree district.

Ninety youngsters aged ten to 17 have received cautions for various offences between April 2012 and August this year.

One child aged 11 from Great Notley has been reprimanded for assault occasioning actual bodily harm so far this financial year.

A ten-year-old was cautioned for theft in a house in 2013/14 and eight teenagers aged between 15 and 17 have been found with cannabis, all since April 2013.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "The use of caution, reprimand or warning is directed by standards agreed at a national level and adopted by all Home Office police forces and other investigatory bodies.

"Before an offence is finalised by way of caution, reprimand or warning a detailed assessment of the full circumstances must be made."

* Full story in this week's Times.