Many parents are finding themselves out of pocket after their little angels have wreaked havoc around the home, a new survey claims.

Exuberant games and tantrums are causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to homes with children jumping on furniture, smashing ornaments and staining carpets, according to Barclays Insurance Services.

Over one in four parents have been left footing the bill after their child has damaged their home whilst one in ten say the cost has come in between £200 and £1,000.

Around a quarter of parents say their carpets have been permanently stained from food and drink whilst 16 per cent have had to replace a broken window.

Over one in ten parents have been left picking up the pieces of an expensive ornament whilst 11 per cent have had their DVDs or videos broken. Around ten per cent have also had beds or sofas damaged from their kids jumping up and down on them.

This has consequently lead 12 per cent of parents to claim for the damages on their insurance.

Adrian Grace, managing director of Barclays Insurance Services, said: "It is impossible to keep an eye on young children all of the time and accidents such as spilt drinks or broken windows are inevitable.

"It is therefore essential that parents have adequate home insurance, particularly to cover accidental damage to help minimise the cost of replacing household items broken or damaged by their children."