BRITAIN'S children are raking in almost £700 million a year for chores and errands - and most of the money is coming from their parents, a new survey has revealed.

Abbey Banking discovered 27 per cent of youngsters aged between 11 and 18 regularly receive money from doing chores. Babysitting is the most popular way of earning extra pocket money, with youngsters earning an average hourly rate of £4.24.

The research found car washing was the second most popular way to earn money, followed by everyday household chores such as washing the dishes, tidying the house and vacuuming.

Your Worcester News spoke to eight pupils at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, Timberdine Avenue,Worcester, to see how they earn their cash. Seven of them received weekly pocket money, two had a paper round, and most of them could get more if they did chores around the house.

They all agreed having pocket money and being able to earn a little extra by doing chores was teaching them the value of money.

One pupil, 14-year-old Katie Ennis, receives about £5 a week in pocket money but to get this she has to earn it. "If I empty the dishwasher I get 50p, and if I have a good week at school I will get extra," she said.

Twelve-year-old Zoe Evans earns £10 a week by doing a paper round and also receives £10 a month pocket money. "I might get extra if I do quite a bit around the house like cleaning the garden or the car," she said.

And while girls were more likely than boys to be making money from odd jobs (30 per cent and 24 per cent respectively), even at a young age boys are emerging as the top earners, raking in £55 per month, compared with the £38 earned by girls.

But this was not the case for Blessed Edward's student Josh Philpott, aged 12, who does not receive any pocket money. Instead he is financially rewarded for doing chores. "If I do any jobs like doing stuff in the garden, helping my nan and tidying my bedroom, my dad will give me money," he said.

However, parenting expert Dr Pat Spungin, founder of the website raisingkids.co.uk, warns parents who pay children for everyday chores may be creating a rod for their own backs.

She said: "There should be things you expect to be done without paying, such as setting the table and washing up, because it is part of living in a family and pulling your weight."

She says parents might choose to pay their children to do less routine jobs, such as cutting the grass, but stresses: "I think it is a great mistake to pay for run-of-the-mill household chores. If you give them money for things like washing the dishes, you are sending a message that it is really your job and you're paying them to do your work.

"They then think they are entitled to a hotel service unless they are paid to do something."

But Fiona Hogarth of the Personal Finance Education Group, which helps teachers advise pupils about personal money matters, stresses that earning from a young age teaches children where money comes from, and its value.

"It is important children get used to handling money, and learn what to do with it," she said.

"But whether they get pocket money for doing nothing, or whether they have to earn it, is something individual parents have to decide."

Gary Walton, aged 46, and his wife Paula, aged 41, of Linksview Crescent, Ronkswood, Worcester, have a 12-year-old daughter called Jessica. "She does not have pocket money," said Mr Walton. "If we see something she really needs we will buy it, but she gets money; 20p, for doing the washing-up, drying-up and for keeping her room tidy.Angela Ramsden, aged 47, of Suffolk Drive, Worcester, has a 13-year-old daughter, Chloe. "She gets £10 a month from me and £2.50 a week from her nan," said Mrs Ramsden. "She does a paper round and on a good week she will get £13. We opened a bank account for her and she does save; we are going to Disneyland so she is saving for that."Caroline Phillips, aged 46, of Hallow Road, Worcester, has two daughters, 11-year-old Rebecca and nine-year-old Georgina. She said: "They get £3 to £5 a week, but they have to put £1 a week each into a tin to look after their rabbits. It makes them learn how to budget. It's important for children to realise that money does not grow on trees."Claire Walker, aged 22, of Malvern, has a six-year-old, Bradley. She says: "He gets £5 a week which he spends on sweets, toys, magazines. But he knows that he must be good to get it. He has to keep his bedroom tidy and go to bed on time."