GEORGE Osborne has signalled he is open to requests from Lancashire's police force for extra money to help fight rape and other sexual crime.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed yesterday that police in the county recorded 977 sexual offences against children, including rape and assault, last year - an increase of 12 per cent.

And the Chancellor said he was "always prepared to look at extra resources" if the Government could help tackle sexual violent crime.

Mr Osborne said: "One of the better pieces of news is there has been increased reporting, and women coming forward who have been victims of this horrific crime.

"But I am always prepared to look at extra requests for resources if there's more we can do to help."

The number of children at risk of abuse in the UK has increased by 80 per cent since 2002 and a total of 48,300 youngsters were on child protection plans in England at the end of March - an increase of 88 per cent compared to 2002.

In England almost half (43 per cent) of CPPs were administered for neglect, a third for emotional abuse and 10 per cent for physical abuse.

One in 20 had suffered sexual abuse as the number of children being referred to social services reached a record high.

Children are made the subjects of protection plans or registers when officials deem them to be at risk of harm.