A toddler aged just three was identified by police as carrying out an act of vandalism, it has been revealed.

Tayside Police said the child was reported in relation to an incident of vandalism in the Fintry area of Dundee in May 2008.

The incident was revealed under freedom of information legislation. The data released showed that a trail of vandalism and damage across the Dundee area had been perpetrated predominantly by young people.

The figures revealed by police in Dundee showed that the bill for damage to property in the city caused by vandalism in 2008 was £688,963.

But despite the huge clean-up costs, less than a quarter of those who destroyed property were detected by police. In one incident £10,000 worth of damage was caused to premises in the city centre.

Police said they had caught several prolific offenders - with eight individuals identified as responsible for more than ten incidences of vandalism. One was said to be behind at least 17.

A spokesman for Tayside Police said: "The age of the youngest person detected in connection with an incident of vandalism/malicious damage was three. The incident took place in May 2008 within the Fintry area. A correlation has been established between young people drinking, anti-social behaviour and vandalism."

Tom Roberts, Head of Public Affairs for the Children 1st charity, said: "No reasonable person would consider a three year old to be criminally responsible. There has been a lot of debate recently about the age of criminal responsibility and Children 1st urges policy makers to remember that children who cause trouble are most often extremely troubled themselves."