Children 'abandoned at UK ports'

Home Office figures show 3,525 unaccompanied children under 18 applied for asylum in 2007, a 2% increase on the previous year.

Many of these youngsters were from war-torn countries or those afflicted by desperate poverty.

Around a third arrived from Afghanistan, 10% from Iran and 9% from Iraq.

In Hampshire, children were found abandoned at Southampton docks, Southampton airport and at service stations in the last year.

Of the 68 unaccompanied children, Hampshire County Council said they had placed 43, while Southampton City Council took in 19 and a further six were looked after by Portsmouth City Council.

The youngest child found by the county council was just three years old.

A spokeswoman said unaccompanied asylum seeking children would be treated in exactly the same way as other children in the council's care.

A Border Agency spokesperson said they would never deport a child unless they had contacted their family or arranged care for them.

"We recognise that the subject of unaccompanied asylum seeking children is a very complex and emotive issue, and the welfare of children and young people is of paramount importance. That is why, even where an unaccompanied asylum seeking child has been found not to need international protection, we do not return children and young people to countries unless either the family has been satisfactorily traced or an acceptable level of reception and care arrangements have been established."