THERE were a total of 228 reported sexual offences in Avon and Somerset lasty year where both the victim and the perpetrator were under 18, according to figures released by police.

The revelation comes after the BBC Panorama programme reported that a Freedom of Information reply said there had been a 71 per cent increase in child on child sex attacks in England and Wales since 2013-14.

Overall, the figure rose from 4,603 in 2013-14 to 7,866 in 2016-17.

The number of reported rapes among under-18s rose 46% from 1,521 to 2,223 over the same period, according to 32 police forces that supplied a breakdown of figures.

Reports of sexual offences on schools premises also increased from 386 in 2013-14 to 922 in 2016-17, according to 31 police forces - including 225 rapes on school grounds over the four years.

Simon Bailey, the national police chief lead for child protection, told the BBC: "We are dealing unequivocally with the tip of the iceberg - we are seeing an increasing number of reports, we are seeing significant examples of harmful sexual behaviour and the lives of young people blighted and traumatically affected by sexual abuse."