IT is truly shocking to think that every day in Lancashire at least one child is sexually abused.

Yet this is only known to the public thanks to a Freedom of Information request by the NSPCC.

The Government does not break the total sexual offences figures down to such levels.

So the only reason the public now know the scale of attacks on children is because a charity had the knowledge to submit a specific FOI. This is not good enough.

To help these children, the public need to know what is happening to them.

Individual cases are reported by the media, but these can appear to be isolated attacks.

To hear that 508 children were sexually assaulted in Lancashire last year makes all decent people want action to stop there being so many victims.

That is why the Government must heed the NSPCC's call to publish this information annually and in detail.

Authorities will then face real pressure to cut the number of attacks.

If this helps the poor victims, then it will be well worth it.