A scheme to prevent missing boys being lured into prostitution by paedophiles is to start in Bradford.

Children's charity Barnardo's says that boys as young as ten end up being sexually exploited after running away from home.

The numbers at risk are illustrated by latest figures which show that 166 boys went missing from their homes in the district in a 12-month period. A third of those who ran away were aged under 12 of which 21 were under ten.

Barnardo's, which is heading the Bradford scheme, today published a stark report on how young boys were being coerced into paedophile rings and called on the Government to introduce new legislation to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

The report - called No Son of Mine! - challenges the common image of the 'rent boy' and concludes that boys who go missing from their homes are often targeted by paedophiles with offers of shelter, food, drink or drugs.

Ginny Wilkinson, leader of the Bradford-based Streets and Lanes Project set up six years ago by Barnardo's to help young women involved in prostitution, said its work had also revealed clear links between missing boys and prostitution in the city.

Mrs Wilkinson said: "We know through the findings of our other projects and the young men's projects mentioned in the Barnardo's national report, that there is a link between boys and young men going missing and being abused through prostitution.

"During the last two full years we have been collecting data of boys and young men going missing in Bradford.

"In just one year between April 1999 and April 2000, 166 boys went missing in Bradford. Nearly a third of those were aged 12 and under and more disturbingly 21 were ten or under.

"The concern is that they go missing at a younger age than the girls and there are more repeat incidents leaving them potentially vulnerable to abuse."

Mrs Wilkinson said the exploitation of boys often took place behind closed doors.

"During our work with young women we have picked up some concerns that boys and young men are staying with men who are possibly dangerous to children and young people," said Mrs Wilkinson.

"Certain vulnerable boys and young men may be attached to older males who are grooming them in the same way as young women are groomed, perhaps to be used by others."

Chief Inspector Dave Young, who is in charge of community safety in the Bradford and Keighley district, said the agencies already worked "hand-in-hand" along with Social Services.

He said: "When someone does go missing from home, whether male or female, it causes major concern as to do so can lead to them being victims of crime.

"We have been doing some work with young women of that age group for some time and this is a natural progression of the initiative."

Three years ago Streets and Lanes piloted the Missing Person's Scheme (MISPER) for young women up to the age of 16 to offer them support and to try to stop them falling victim to pimps and prostitution.

A Barnardo's campaign based on its work in Bradford led to the Government drawing up new guidelines which accepted the girls involved were victims of child abuse.

A second MISPER pilot scheme will be set up later this month for boys up to the age of 16 in one of Bradford's three police divisions.

It will be run by Mel Thornton, who already co-ordinates the young women's scheme, and will offer support for boys and young men who go missing from home.

Once a boy is reported missing to the police they contact MISPER and a letter is sent to his parents introducing the scheme. When he returns home a visit is arranged where the boy can discuss his problems in confidence with a trained worker.