Child abuse could go unreported during lockdown as a quarter of adults do not know where to go for help, a survey has found.

The NSPCC found that 26% of adults surveyed are not confident they would know where to seek help if they thought a child or young person was being abused or neglected.

The survey also showed that more adults are worried about the impact of the lockdown on children suffering domestic abuse than any other type of harm.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils are very concerned about falling referrals to children’s social care.

'It is vital that councils receive the funding they need to support children, young people and families both during the current phase of the crisis, and through the recovery period, and that communities know how to spot signs of risk and how to report these,' said Cllr Judith Blake, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board.

'The impact of the pandemic on some children will be far-reaching, and it will be essential that the right services are there to support them.'