Dangers begin again for children once they are thrown out

More than 15,000 under-16s are thrown out of home every year, research from The Children's Society found.

Many then turn to begging, stealing, drugs or prostitution to survive as they are too afraid to ask police or social services for help.

The group says a network of refuges across Britain would help protect vulnerable children.

It also wants local authorities to provide guidance for young runaways and make family mediation services available.

We cannot just have a few islands in a sea of needs Children's Society spokeswoman 'I couldn't face going home'

"We cannot just have a few islands in a sea of needs," a society spokeswoman said.

"We have got to give these children somewhere they know they can trust, a third-party independent place where they can get time out and consider what the next stage should be.

"All families reach crisis point at some time. A refuge gives children a place to be where they wouldn't be hurt or abused or on the streets."

Few reported missing

The study - Thrown Away - looks at young people and children who at 16 years and under are below the threshold to be registered homeless.

It found of the 15,000 children thrown out each year, one in five go on to suffer some form of physical or sexual assault.

That comes either from strangers on the street, or from relatives or acquaintances who have offered them a place to stay.

Because few of these children were reported missing to the police, agencies did not know how many were affected.

'Driven insane'

Ben, a victim of violent abuse who has now left home, told the BBC: "My mum said, 'A violent husband, that's normal, it goes on all the time'. But it's not, no-one should have to put up with that.

"My stepdad hit my mum. There were lots of arguments.

"It drove me insane. I had a lot of friends but I didn't really speak to them about it. It built up inside me until I couldn't cope with it anymore."

It built up inside me until I couldn't cope with it anymore Ben

The research, part of the society's Safe and Sound campaign, showed children have little access to emergency accommodation.

Eighteen per cent are forced to sleep rough or at a stranger's house, 39% stay with friends and 44% with other family members.

Family difficulties

Family breakdown, violence or rejection by parents were the main reasons for leaving.

The society says a pilot project in Leeds supports the research in showing a demand for refuges.

It attracted children from all over Britain when it opened, the spokeswoman said

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Young people without a home can be extremely vulnerable to abuse and harm from life on the streets.

Children are reluctant to go to the police or social services

"We are giving greater support to children and families to help prevent them from reaching a crisis point.

"We are also doing more to make sure there is better protection for those without a home and making sure there is available a safe home to which they can return."

And he added councils were doing good quality work to tackle issues of child abuse and children being rejected from families but more still needed to be done.

Parents with family difficulties can call Parents' Line Plus on 0808 800 2222.