More than 2,000 children under the age of 16 run away from home in Northern Ireland each year, according to a report.

The Lost Youth survey, carried out by the charity Extern as part of a UK-wide study, also said that more than a third of children who run away from home sleep rough.

This figure is significantly higher than in the rest of the UK, where 25% of runaway children surveyed had slept rough.

The charity compiled the report, in support of the Children's Promise Millennium Appeal, by talking to young runaways and examining their experiences and reasons for leaving home through their own accounts.

Chief executive of Extern Bill Lockhart said: "The report outlines how the experience of Northern Ireland's runaways differs from those in the rest of the UK - impacted by the influence of paramilitary activities."

Rural and urban problem

Of those surveyed, one in 12 had been sexually assaulted while they were away from home.

Among the children surveyed, 27% gave arguments and conflict in their home as their reason for running away.

This was often aggravated by personal problems or problems at school.

More than 25% said they had left because of physical abuse - or the threat of it - emotional abuse or neglect.

The survey suggested that the numbers of children running away from different urban, suburban and rural environments were similar.

Balloons

It also said there was no difference in the rates of girls and boys running away - in contrast to the UK as a whole, where young women are more likely to run away.

Women's Coalition Assembly member Jane Morrice launched the report at Stormont on Wednesday, where 2,000 balloons to represent the children who run away each year, are to be released.

Extern has been working in Northern Ireland for 23 years to improve the provision of preventative and restorative services to those affected by crime and social exclusion.

The charity carried out the Lost Youth survey in collaboration with the Children's Society in England and Wales and the Aberlour Childcare Trust in Scotland.