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The Children's Society is calling for more targeted work with young runaways, including new refuges for those who end up on the streets.

In a new report, the charity finds that younger runaways are nearly three times more likely than their older counterparts to be sexually assaulted. They are also more likely to sleep rough, be bullied at school, experience learning difficulties and be in trouble with the police.

"Running away behaviour is likely to be more extensive and riskier than young people who first run away after the age of 11," says the report.

It recommends that services be made more responsive to the needs of young children on the streets, with emergency refuge and foster care places, plus awareness-raising initiatives targeted at primary schools.

Children's Society chief executive Ian Sparks said: "I know of no other children whose experiences are so stark, whose lives are so punctuated with violence, abuse and neglect, and whose needs are so unmet."

Barbara Roche, minister of state in the Cabinet Office, said the social exclusion unit was looking at young runaways and preparing a report.

- Child Runaways: Under 11s Running Away in the UK from 020 7841 4415