CHILDREN as young as eight are driving and messing about with dumper trucks and diggers around Redditch, police have warned.

During the last few weeks, a dumper truck, two large cranes and a JCB digger have been taken and either driven, dumped or set on fire.

Police fear someone could be killed and are warning parents to be aware how dangerous the vehicles are and to pass the message on to their children.

Pc Andy Jones, of Redditch police, said: "We have had a number of reports of youngsters taking and using these very dangerous and powerful machines.

"This equipment needs specialised training to be used correctly and if the vehicles were to go out of control it could easily end up with someone being seriously injured if not killed."

A digger was found burnt out in playing fields opposite Hopyard Lane, Moons Moat, on Friday.

On Saturday, June 23, and Monday, June 25, there were reports of youths, aged about 13, driving the cranes off Oxleasow Road, Moons Moat.

And again on Saturday, June 23, there were reports of youths driving a dumper truck in the bus lane in Winyates Centre.

Pc Jones added: "Reports are coming in that the youths driving and messing around with these vehicles are as young as eight years old.

''They appear to be using the vehicles from road works and areas where gas mains work is being carried out."