MORE than 1,000 children told Thames Valley Police that they were sexually abused last year, statistics published by the NSPCC show.

A total of 1,264 calls were made during 2010/2011 – meaning that 3.46 children a day reported they had been sexually abused.

Only the Metropolitan Police received more reports of abuse, even though the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire police forces all work with larger populations.

The charity, which obtained the figures through a Freedom of Information request, said statistics show more than a third of all sex crimes are committed against children.

Less than 10 per cent of reported abuse cases result in a conviction nationally, but Thames Valley Police could not give local figures.

Det Supt Nora Holford said: “Thames Valley Police works very closely with partner agencies such as local councils, the NSPCC and Barnardo’s to protect vulnerable children and investigate crimes.”