A charity is calling on the Government to take action over a 95 per cent increase in reports of child sexual abuse in Cumbria.

The NSPCC has revealed that in the last five years, reports of this nature have increased from 429 in 2014/15 to 839 in 2019/20.

The charity also found contacts from young people to Childline about sexual abuse in the family tripled during lockdown.

In May the Home Office said it “will shortly publish the first of its kind cross-government Child Sexual Abuse Strategy to improve the UK’s response to tackling this abhorrent crime”.

The strategy has not yet been published.

The NSPCC's chief executive Peter Wanless said: “Urgent action is needed to prevent abuse and to ensure children are supported to recover when they bravely speak out.

“We need concerted leadership from governments across the UK to implement strategies on tackling child sexual abuse that put the experiences and needs of children at their heart and are effective in preventing abuse and helping young people recover.”

Mark Jenkinson, MP for Workington, said: "The figures are horrifying. However I am not privy to information on specific cases. It is important that we understand that a rise in reporting could come from either an increase in case numbers or a greater confidence in reporting.

"These are police issues and I will continue to discuss this matter with Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner and I will raise with the Home Office the delays to the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy."

Safety Net, a Cumbrian charity supporting sexual abuse victims, said that while the lockdown protected people from the virus, it trapped vulnerable children and young people at home with abusers.

Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, said she was sickened by the crimes.

She said: "Most importantly I want to say to anyone that is at risk, or is being abused, or anyone who suspects abuse is happening, please speak out. We know that whilst the vast majority of children enjoy kind and loving families, there are children being abused by the people they should most be able to trust, and at a time when speaking out is difficult.

"It is why schools re-opening is so important. Reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse has increased over the last decade but there remains an abhorrent underworld which sickens me to the core, of people hurting innocent children, damaging childhoods and using their positions of power to control and silence victims."

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “A single case of a sexual offence against a child is one too many. But we have to acknowledge that fixing this is no easy or simple thing: it needs education from families and schools, the support of peers, trust in the Police and clear and easy lines of reporting. I would much rather see more people coming forward than have terrible crimes such as this brushed under the carpet.”

Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.

Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk

Safety Net can be contacted on 01228 515859 or by visiting www.safetynetuk.org.

To report a crime call Cumbria police on 101.

For more information on child sexual exploitation visit www.cumbria.police.uk