The UK should take a lead from other European nations to stop the physical punishment of children, says a leading charity.

An NSPCC report shows that over the last 30 years, the law has been successfully changed in several countries to give children the same protection from being hit as adults.

It follows the release of a United Nations report last month which criticised the UK's record on protecting children.

Countries in Europe are showing that reform works, both to protect children and support parents more effectively

Mary Marsh, NSPCC

However, the UK government has continued to resist pressure to impose a ban on parents smacking their children.

The NSPCC report has been published to coincide with United Nations Children's Day on 20 November.

It lists 11 countries where children are given a greater degree of protection from physical punishment - Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Cyprus, Latvia, Croatia, Germany and Israel and through a supreme court judgment in Italy.

It found that reform did not lead to parents being prosecuted for minor incidents, with change taking place through education rather than punishment.

No interference

It also claimed that changes to the law had not led to more unruly children and that they were widely accepted by both the general public and parents.

NSPCC director Mary Marsh said: "Countries in Europe are showing that reform works, both to protect children and support parents more effectively.

"On UN Children's Day, we are asking the UK government to look at this evidence and rethink its opposition to reform."

However, the government remains firm in its opposition to change.

Speaking in the House of Lords last month, junior Education Minister Baroness Ashton of Upholland said ministers did not want to interfere "in the normal course of family life"

The minister stressed the government was "opposed absolutely to violence and abuse against children".

But she added: "The law only allows what is reasonable. We want to ensure that parents recognise their responsibilities."

The NSPCC report concluded:

Seven per cent of children have suffered physical abuse in the home

8,000 children were registered for physical abuse in England during the year ending 31 March 2001

36,500 children are on child protection registers in the UK

Infants and boys are more likely to be physically abused than older children and girls