Nearly 50 children a DAY call a helpline because they feel pressured to have sex, says Childline

In the last year almost 6,000 girls, some as young as 12, called Childline to discuss pregnancy worries

Between April 1 last year and March 31, 5,985 girls, some as young as 12, and 503 boys called the helpline to discuss pregnancy worries.

One 16-year-old boy called in afraid he may have caught a disease after having unprotected sex for a dare.

A girl told the charity she had sex with her boyfriend because she was scared he was going to leave her.

The NSPCC, which runs Child-Line, is calling for compulsory sex education in English schools from specially trained staff.

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."