One in six child runaways is forced to sleep rough, the report says

A joint University of York study found one in six had to sleep rough or with strangers and one in 12 suffered harm.

The charity called for �10m a year of government funding for the refuges. The government said it was funding refuges and aiming to tackle running away.

Some 11,000 14 to 16-year-olds were polled by the Children's Society.

We need to offer them a safe alternative, and that's why we need these refuges Bob Reitemeier Children's Society CEO

It found the majority of runaways were fleeing family conflict, abuse or neglect.

Two thirds also said their parents or carers did not report them missing to police.

Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of the charity, said: "If the police are not alerted, and children stay away from home, they will be left seeking help from adults who may harm, hurt, abuse and exploit them.

"We need to offer them a safe alternative, and that's why we need these refuges."

The study found 1 in 10 runaways had subsequently begged, stolen or got involved in drugs or prostitution.

"Unless the government funds a national network of refuges for runaways, thousands more children will slip into the hands of dangerous adults and be harmed," Mr Reitemeier said.

The charity wants refuges in rural and urban locations which are open 24 hours a day.

Children would be able to talk in confidence to trained workers who would make assessments, particularly on child protection issues.