Children pressured over sex

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New figures released show the helpline has been called by children as young as 12 worried they may be pregnant.

Between April 1 last year and March 31, 5,985 girls and 503 boys called to discuss worries about pregnancy.

Sue Minto from ChildLine said: "Children are in the dark about the biological and emotional aspects of sex. This leaves them without the knowledge and skills they need to make informed, responsible decisions about their actions, and so they are getting caught up in sexual situations that could have serious implications in their lives."

Among the calls received were one from a 16-year-old boy worried he might have a sexually transmitted disease after having unprotected sex for a dare and another from a girl who said she had sex with her boyfriend because she was worried he would leave her if she refused.

The NSPCC, which runs the confidential freephone 24-hour ChildLine service, is calling for sex education to be a compulsory part of the school curriculum in England delivered by specially trained staff.

Ms Minto said: "Keeping children safe means giving them the appropriate facts about sex and emotions.

"This includes discussing peer pressure, relationships and love, and helping young people develop the skills and confidence to make the right decisions for them about sex and keep themselves safe from those who may want to abuse or exploit them."

Schools minister Jim Knight announced a government review in February of how sex and relationships education is taught in England.