A survey has found eight out of 10 North-East police officers have been subjected to an alcohol-related assault.

It also showed one in five have been assaulted by drunks six or more times.

The findings are part of a new report by Balance, the North-East alcohol control office, entitled The Impact of Alcohol on Policing in the North East. The report, which surveyed 1,100 frontline officers, also revealed that: 97 per cent feel at risk of physical assault when policing the night time economy.

Almost nine in 10 officers believe cheap alcohol contributes to alcohol-related crime and disorder.

A majority of officers (6 in 10) said alcohol related crime and disorder takes up at least half of their time while 1 in 10 say it constitutes 80 -100 per cent of their workload.

On a weekend evening shift nearly every single person being dealt with or arrested is intoxicated through alcohol misuse.

Officers often have to deal with alcohol related anti-social behaviour from children as young as eleven years old.

During 2010/11 more than 316m was spent dealing with an estimated 213,000 alcohol related crimes in the region.

Inspector Colin Dobson, from Durham Constabulary, said: "While crime rates are falling in the three force areas in the North-East, the link between cheap alcohol and crime and disorder is undeniable."

Colin Shevills, Director of Balance, said: "We know that the more affordable alcohol is, the more people consume. We therefore urge the Government to stand firm on its commitment to introduce a minimum unit price on alcohol."