David Cameron today gave the go-ahead for police to use water cannons on rioters after children as young as nine looted stores and made off with bottles of wine and vodka in fresh violence that flared around the UK yesterday.
The children wore tracksuits and unlike hardened older thugs they innocently disregarded covering their faces as they ran through the shattered glass of supermarkets to fill their pockets with looted goods.
But today, the police were given the green light to use water cannons with 24 hours' notice. The Prime Minister said that plans had been put in place to deal with the disorder using water cannons - making it the first time they would be used on the streets of mainland Britain.

The comments were seen as U-turn on what Home Secretary Theresa May said earlier this week when she ruled out the use of water cannons. The 'softly softly' approach has been shelved and police will finally be given the backing to come down hard on offenders.

'Police are already authorised to use baton rounds and we agreed at Cobra that, while they are not currently needed, we now have in place contingency plans for water cannons to be available at 24 hours' notice,' Cameron said in a speech outside Downing Street this morning.

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Too young to drink: A youngster barely over 10 years old clutches a bottle of wine looted from a Sainsbury's Local store in Manchester city centre, and right, one of his friends runs away from the same shop with three bottles of strong vodka



Primary school age: Two youngsters pull the hoods from their baggy sweaters over their heads as they stand outside the looted store. The child who stole a bottle of wine is seen behind them returning with a bottle of Coke


Free for all: Hooded youths spill out of the damaged store in Manchester after filling their pockets with cigarettes and bottles of alcohol