Boy, 11, Taken Out For Drive In Attempt To Get Him To Stop Playing Grand Theft Auto

Police in Blackpool have said an 11-year-old they caught behind the wheel of a car was simply being given a driving lesson - in an attempt to stop him playing on Grand Theft Auto, no less.

Police were told that a member of the unnamed boy's family had become so fed up with his GTA obsession that they decided to take him out practising in a real car, giving him a bit of time away from the PlayStation 4.

But the adult was reported for traffic offences after officers spotted the vehicle in a car park in Blackpool on Sunday 1 March.

The news was shared from Lancashire Road Police's Twitter account, with a picture of the car and a 'Busted' graphic from the game.

The post said: "The driver of this car was 11-years-old. Yes, eleven.

"A family member was fed up with the child playing Grand Theft Auto all day on the PlayStation, so brought him out to practice driving on a car park in Blackpool.

"The adult has been reported for traffic offences."

Many Twitter users couldn't believe what they were seeing, with some commenting to say the story was so 'staggering' that Lancashire Road Police must have been making it up.

One wrote: "Seriously 11? Really don't get why an eleven year old was behind the wheel."

Another asked: "If the parents are as irresponsible as that, how will the kid ever learn?"

North West Motorway Police also replied with a GIF of Iron Man Tony Stark shaking his head.

But despite the fact the child's relative may now be in slightly hot water, some people found the story amusing, with one commenting: "Love the GTA busted picture."

While I think many of us can applaud a grown-up wanting to get a kid away from the constant glow of a screen, perhaps anyone thinking of doing something similar should at least wait a few years until it's, you know... legal.