The report by the Vulnerable Adults' Protection Committee said that residents may be suffering at the hands of their own family or in care homes.

Figures released showed that there were between 300 to 500 reported cases in the county every month. It expressed the fear that other cases unrecorded.

Chairman Leo Bishop said: "We're trying to raise awareness and prevent abuse."

"Now is the time to raise awareness about the problem. There are all kinds of things people in fact are not alerted to," he added.