British children 'among Europe's unhappiest and unhealthiest'

British children are among the unhappiest and unhealthiest in Europe, according to a new league table.

Research comparing children's wellbeing across 25 countries paints a picture of dysfunctional British families failing to talk to each other or eat together.

Youngsters in Britain are most likely to come from broken homes and have among the poorest relationships with their parents and friends.

Young Britons also have some of the worst eating habits and freely admit binge-drinking, taking drugs and indulging in underage sex.

An authorititative study ranked British youngsters 21st out of the 25 EU countries on a scale of "child wellbeing".

Children were worse off only in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Slovakia.