Dozens of children at 'medium or high' risk of sexual exploitation

It comes as officials start to draw up plans to address the issue in Dudley.

Building on police intelligence, training taxi drivers to spot signs of sexual exploitation and education programmes for children are among plans in place.

In total, 64 children are deemed at medium or high risk of sexual exploitation.

Officials say 87 children were reported as missing in the three months to the end of last year. They went missing a total of 174 times, with some going missing on multiple occasions.

Council officials say they have a 'long journey' ahead to tackle the issue but are working on improving the outlook for vulnerable children.

Schools are planning to use a website by the Dot Com Children's Foundation to educate children on keeping safe and the risks out there.

Theatre groups will also tour schools to perform shows as part of the education programme.

Officials also want to raise community awareness of the issue to help people spot the signs and report concerns.

Mandatory training is under way for taxi drivers and officials want to monitor cab firms from outside Dudley which operate in the borough.

A child improvement board has been set up to scrutinise progress on improvements.

Dudley UKIP group leader, Councillor Paul Brothwood, welcomed the move, but said:

"Dudley is now heading in the right direction but it has a lot of work to do."

Dudley Safeguarding Children Board chairman, Roger Clayton, said: "Protecting vulnerable children and young people is of the utmost importance.

"The board's partners, including the council, police and voluntary sector, are working extensively to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation

." Dudley Council strategic director, Tony Oakman, wrote in a report to the committee: "It is recognised that as a council, we have a long journey ahead to eradicate CSE from our streets."

The report will be discussed at the meeting of the People Services committee from 6pm on Thursday.