Seven times as many children now contact ChildLine within a month of being sexually abused than when the telephone helpline was set up, the charity has calculated.

When the charity was created in 1986, nearly a third of those who called had suffered abuse for at least five years.

Latest figures show the number who wait this long is now just 5%.

ChildLine said the results showed children were increasingly aware they had a right to seek help.

Childline

A free, confidential, 24-hour helpline for children in trouble or danger Its number is 0800 1111

The charity was set up following an appeal on the BBC programme That's Life for viewers' help in conducting a survey on child abuse.

In its first year the helpline received calls from more than 3,000 children about a variety of problems.

By 1993 this figure had risen to 6,677.

Now the helpline says it receives more than 138,000 calls each year.

'No escape'

The Childline report released on Friday, on its 16th anniversary, showed children were increasingly willing to turn to them for help soon after the sexual abuse began.

About 49% of callers contacting the helpline on the subject did so within a month of the abuse starting, compared with 7% in 1986.

Children calling about sexual abuse

Within one month: 49% Within one to five years: 14% After five years: 5%

In addition, 14% of victims got in touch only after one to five years, as opposed to 37% 16 years ago.

Esther Rantzen, former That's Life presenter and now chair of the charity, said: "Sixteen years ago ChildLine offered something completely unique to thousands of children and young people who had endured sexual abuse for many years without any means of escape.

"It was the first free, national, 24-hour helpline for children and since then, has been the model for similar helplines across the world."

Funding issues

Carole Easton, chief executive of ChildLine, said: "Children sexually abused today know that they are not the only ones to suffer and that someone cares enough to listen.

"We are able to reassure them that it is not their fault and can help them put a stop to the abuse."

Earlier this month, Ms Rantzen warned that only half of the children who contacted Childline would receive help due to a lack of funding.

She said the helpline was taking calls from 4,000 children each day, but lack of funds meant only 1,800 would get through to a counsellor.

The most common problem children call the charity about is bullying - in 2001, 17% of the calls were about bullying, 14% about family relationships, 11% about physical abuse, 8% about sexual abuse; and 8% about concern for others.