THERE were 173 recorded sexual offences against children aged four to eight in Somerset last year - a 70 per cent increase.

There were 6,613 recorded sexual offences against children aged four to eight in England and Wales, according to police figures.

More than 600 of these sexual offences were recorded in the South West of England.

The figures from NSPCC come as the charity relaunches their Talk PANTS campaign.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: “We know lots of parents have used Talk PANTS to speak to children about the dangers they may face from sexual abuse as they grow up, both in the online and offline world.

“However, figures show we need to do more to help young children learn to stay safe."

Superintendent Will White said: "Violence against women and children is also a force-wide priority as set by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“The local safeguarding boards, which see police working with key partner agencies to share information and flag up concerns, has led to more early reporting of offences.

“We have specially trained officers who are dedicated to working with victims to make sure they are fully supported."

Avon and Somerset Police recorded 173 recorded sexual offences against children aged four to eight last year (2016/17), an increase of 71 from 2015/16.

Devon and Cornwall Police saw a rise of 49 sexual offences against children aged four to eight with 299 sexual offences recorded in 2015/16 and 348 recorded in 2016/17.

During 2016/2017 there were 63 recorded sexual offences against four to eight year-olds in Gloucestershire and 77 across Wiltshire.

Research conducted by the NSPCC found many parents were worried that talking to their young children about sexual abuse would be scary and confusing for them.

To combat the issue the NSPCC has created a catchy song and activity pack - with cartoon dinosaur Pantosaurus - which don’t mention the words sex or abuse so it is easier for parents to tackle the sensitive subject.

The charity has also produced a fun video which shows other young children using the PANTS activities.

Parents and children can sing along with Pantosaurus, who explains each letter of PANTS. The acronym provides a simple but valuable rule that keeps children safe: that their body belongs to them, they have a right to say no, and that they should tell an adult they trust if they’re worried or upset.

The charity also encourages parents to order a PANTS activity pack ahead of half term from their online shop. The pack contains word searches, games, stickers and a bookmark for a suggested donation of £5.

Donna-Marie Wright, a mum to seven children, is a passionate supporter of the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS campaign.

She said: “I think Talk PANTS is a brilliant concept because having been abused myself as a child, I wanted to talk to my children about staying safe from sexual abuse, especially the younger ones (aged 4 & 5) because they don’t really understand.

“It’s a fun way to engage the kids, and the PANTS activities are done in a non-invasive way – there is no talk of sex. As soon as they are old enough to understand, it is a conversation all parents should have with their children.”

Supt White said: “There are a number of reasons to explain the rise in the number of offences, including increased awareness of this type of crime, an increase in early reporting of offences and an increase in confidence among victims in the criminal justice system.

“The way these types of crimes are recorded has also dramatically improved meaning we are unearthing a more accurate picture.

“If we want to stamp out abuse we first need to understand its scale and prevalence, this is a journey and that is not something that can be explained by solely analysing simple performance statistics.

“For free and confidential advice, you can contact The Bridge on 0117 342 6999 or www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk/

“Additionally, we are working with the NSPCC, who have fantastic resources for parents, providing support and guidance.”