TEENAGERS are running drugs across the county for big city gangs in what authorities fear is a growing menace.

The 'despicable' rackets are being run by criminal groups spreading from areas such as London and Birmingham who recruit children to deliver drugs and money, guard safe houses and in some cases sell drugs to users.

Hundreds of vulnerable youngsters in Oxfordshire could be at risk of exploitation by the gangs, with social services warning there is 'an emerging pattern' of boys aged 13 to 17 being targeted.

Anthony Stansfeld, police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, said tackling the scourge was a 'priority'.

He added: "The use of children by these gangs is despicable.

"Not only are they being used to carry drugs but often they are also using drugs themselves and using the money they are given to buy more.

"One of our concerns is there has been tremendous pressure not to put children into custody.

"That is understandable but an unfortunate result is it encourages gangs to use young men as drug runners, because they know they are less likely to be arrested or taken into care.

"The way we have to deal with this is through better cooperation with schools, parents and neighbours – if people think this is happening to a young boy or girl they need to report it.

"The police are committed to tackling this issue, it is a priority for us."

The use of child drug runners is thought to be part of the 'county lines' phenomenon, first raised by the National Crime Agency last year.

It involves gangs from major cities using dedicated mobile hotlines and drug mules to expand their operations into other areas.

A new report by Oxfordshire County Council warns there have been several cases of missing children in the county being linked to drug running, with the authority working closely with police to tackle the problem.

The council said both boys and girls were at risk of exploitation, although boys not in care – but known to social services – were the most likely victims.

A spokesman said this was possibly because they were not as closely watched as looked-after children, adding: "Any child can potentially be at risk, but intelligence we are gathering has led us to identify a group who appear to be particularly at risk.

"Clearly there are a wide range of potential risks associated with organised crime, including drug-running, property crime and the risk of physical violence.

"Going missing from school, home and care is one of the biggest indicators of high-risk exposure to our children.

"All missing episodes are taken very seriously."

Its warning came as figures showed there was a 50 per cent rise in missing episodes for children not in care in the second half of 2016.

The number of recorded incidents rose from 317 for January to July to 476 for July to December.

The county council stressed the number of children overall who were reported missing had fallen over that period, despite the number of looked-after children increasing.

"This suggests management of repeat missing children is improving", Dan Ruaux, the strategic lead for missing children, said.

Inspector Rachel Patterson, of Oxford's police division, said it was thought a 'small number' of young people and their families were currently involved in drug running.

But she added: "We take all reports of young people involved in criminal activity of this nature very seriously and will continue to do all we can to safeguard and divert young people away from the path of potential harm."