One in five 14 and 15-year-olds admits to carrying a weapon

Nearly one in five teenagers carries a weapon, according to a shocking survey issued yesterday.

Most said they have a knife, gun or other weapon to defend themselves from attack.

The findings will fuel concerns over the armed violence among Britain's young.

Twenty-one teenagers have been killed this year in London alone. They include 14-year-old David Idowu, who was stabbed last month, and 16-year-old Shakilus Townsend, who was knifed and beaten with a baseball bat by a gang of youths.

The study of 1,426 pupils aged 14 and 15 at state schools in Southampton was commissioned by Hampshire Police and carried out by Portsmouth University.

The force decided the research was needed after Lewis Singleton, a talented sportsman, was knifed to death in the city.

The police described the results as 'worrying' but insisted the city is no different to any other in the country.

The research showed that the vast majority of weapon-carrying is done outside school.

Six in ten of those who had carried a weapon said they had done so for self-defence because they feared being bullied or attacked.

Frederick Moody became London's 21st teenage stabbing victim this year

Three in ten had done so for other reasons, such as activities like Scouts and cadets, or for reasons to do with image.

Alarmingly, 20 of those questioned said they carried a knife or gun specifically to attack someone.

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said: 'This report provides a stark illustration of Labour's continued failure to tackle gun and knife possession.

'More and more young people are carrying murder weapons on our streets - which inevitably means they are used with increasing regularity.'