TEACHERS are to be given training in spotting the tell-tale signs that East Lancashire children are being groomed for sexual exploitation.

The announcement was made following the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's reports into the growing problem of girls aged between 12 and 16 being groomed for sex by rings of adult males.

Police and the parents of a number of the child victims said that many of the girls go missing from home and from school to meet the men who have sex with them in return for gifts and attention.

And the mum of one 15-year-old Blackburn girl who is currently being sexually exploited revealed that her daughter is often intercepted by men, who are predominantly Asian, from either outside Blakewater College or as she makes her way home.

The Evening Telegraph's investigation revealed that up to 100 underage girls in East Lancashire have been groomed for sex in the last year.

Today teaching chiefs said that already every school has a designated person typically a senior manager who leads on child protection issues and reports any concerns.

But more will now be done by schools to specifically target the sexual exploitation of children and inform pupils of risks of going missing from school with these men.

Peter Morgan, director of children's services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "These staff members have been given specific training on the issue of sexual grooming along with general training on other child protection issues.

"Each school's designated person then cascades this training and information down to other staff members who can report any concerns to them.

"The council also provides child protection training for teachers and school staff and in light of the recent Telegraph reports we are planning further training on all forms of grooming."

Council and police officers are also carrying out regular truancy sweeps to try and combat girls going missing from school and attempt to return children to school and in all cases alert their parents.

Mr Morgan added: "It is very difficult to define the absolute indicators of grooming but teachers are vigilant and experienced in looking at changes in behaviour and attendance patterns, picking up on discussions amongst pupils relating to inappropriate behaviour and following up concerns expressed by pupils.

"School staff work closely with other agencies to follow up any such issues.

"We also have a range of measures in place to positively promote good attendance and deter truancy.

"If pupils do truant, schools follow this up quickly, involve the council and education welfare officers and together work with the pupils' families to get them back into school.

"Of course, staff cannot physically prevent children leaving school, but would alert families and appropriate officers if they did so.

"Similarly schools can and do act if they notice any inappropriate adults around the school premises or have suspicious behaviour reported to them."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council's education department, which covers Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, said dedicated members of staff already worked with the police and other agencies to identify children at risk from abuse.

But he said it did not plan specific measures to tackle sexual grooming at this stage.