Unsuspecting parents are shelling out 191 million pounds a year to fund their children's fraudulent online shopping habits, according to a survey.

It found as many as 20 percent of 8 to 16-year-olds in the UK -- over a million children -- are using their parents' credit cards behind their backs to buy the latest gadgets, computer games and fashion accessories online.

The worst offenders are 15-year-olds, with one in 10 making an illicit purchase every month. While the average cost of a purchase is 25 pounds, nearly one in 20 children are racking up bills of between 75 and 100 pounds each time.

The survey of 500 adults and 500 youngsters also showed many parents make it easier for their children to access their details, with 44 percent book-marking their favourite online shopping sites and a third saving their bank card details online.

Despite this, most are not aware their wallets are being raided, with only 6 percent saying their children have access to their credit card details and 2 percent thinking their children could have made online purchases without their permission.

Life assistance company CPP, who carried out the research, said unsupervised children may not be using reputable websites or secure methods of payment intended to reduce the risk of card identity fraud.

"Being lax with details online could not only tempt children into making sneaky purchases online, but also exposes parents to the dangers of online fraud," said Michael Lynch, an identity theft expert at CPP.