There were 48 recorded sexual offences against children aged four to eight in Dorset in one year, worrying police figures have revealed.

The figures for 2016/17 show the highest number of victims were aged 6, with 17 separate reports. 13 victims were aged just four years old.

The data gathered by the NSPCC through a freedom of information request shows there were 600 recorded sexual offences against children of this age range across the south west and 6,613 across England and Wales.

Now the charity's boss has said conversations between parents and children about staying safe from sexual abuse should be "as normal as teaching them to cross the road."

It comes as the NSPCC relaunches its Talk PANTS campaign this half term, part of a year long initiative in Dorset that launched earlier this year.

The campaign features Pantosaurus, an animated dinosaur, which helps parents with children aged eight and under to have the vital conversation about staying safe from sexual abuse by teaching them important messages.

The Dorset Local Children’s Safeguarding Board and the Bournemouth and Poole Local Safeguarding Children’s Board partnered up with the NSPCC to run the campaign.

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

“However, the figures we have revealed today show that we all need to do more to help young children learn how to stay safe from sexual abuse, these conversations should be as normal as teaching them to cross the road.”

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

To combat this problem the NSPCC has created a song and activity pack with Pantosaurus which don’t mention the words sex or abuse, to make it easier for parents to tackle the sensitive subject.

As part of the campaign in Dorset, workshops are also being held for parents to speak to professionals about raising awareness of sexual abuse and starting conversations with their children in an age appropriate way. The free briefing sessions are funded through a grant from the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner.

Donna-Marie Wright, a mum to seven children, is a supporter of the PANTS campaign. She said: "Having been abused myself as a child, I wanted to talk to my children about staying safe from sexual abuse.

"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."

The charity encourages parents to order a PANTS activity pack ahead of half term from their online shop for a suggested donation of £5.

Further PANTS briefings for professionals are also planned throughout October and November. Contact 01202 458873 to book on to a session or find out more.