Teenagers are the best liars because of their ability to think fast, a study has found.

Around 60 per cent of children aged between 13 and 17 tell up to five lies a day, scientists said.

They are also the most successful age range at not getting caught, with experts claiming this is because the frontal lobe in their brain would not have started deteriorating.

Teenagers are the best liars because of their ability to think fast, a study has found. Above, Justin Cooper and Jim Carrey in the film Liar Liar

The study, led by Bruno Verschuere of Amsterdam University, saw more than 1,000 people facing a reaction time-based deception task.

Scientists behind the paper said: 'We found that lying proficiency improved during childhood, excelled in young adulthood, and worsened throughout adulthood.

On average, people tell 2.18 lies a day - although the research did not distinguish between 'white lies' and those that are more malicious

'Likewise, lying frequency increased in childhood, peaked in adolescence, and decreased during adulthood.'

Participants were asked a series of quick questions from their favourite colour to their country of birth, the Sunday Times reported.

Those involved were wired to a computer measuring their breathing and heart rate, and had their answers put through a 'voice stress test'.

On average, people tell 2.18 lies a day - although the research did not distinguish between 'white lies' and those that are more malicious.

Children aged between six and eight told the fewest lies, with only a quarter telling up to five a day.

Meanwhile, 43 per cent of children aged between nine and 12 and those who are middle-aged both told between one and five lies.

A former study suggested the biggest reason people lied on a daily basis was to 'make someone feel better'.

Other top reasons include 'not getting into trouble' the simple fact that 'life is complicated'.