A PILOT project to protect children at night in Bradford has received Government funding to create a "network of eyes and ears" in the city.

The Department for Education has awarded children’s charity Barnardo’s £736,154 for the 12-month pilot project which will be spread across parts of England, including Bradford, to teach night-time workers how to protect children from sexual exploitation after dark.

The project, called Plain Sight, will reach out to hospital staff, security guards and others who work at night.

The funding will help pay for one full time worker who will be employed across Bradford to run classroom-based learning, outreach work in the community and sessions on reporting concerns to the police.

The idea is that the project will create a network of ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground to look out for vulnerable children, says Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan .

The one worker who will cover Bradford, will also cover Kirklees and Wakefield, working in partnership with other initiatives tackling child sexual exploitation.

The project's findings will also be shared with local authorities.

Mr Khan said: "Children can be particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation at night. All night-time workers need to be aware of the risks children face when dark falls. This funding will enable accident and emergency staff, door supervisors and the wider community know how to spot the danger signs, keep alert and understand how to get help for children at risk or suffering abuse.

"Barnardo's works with over 2,000 sexually exploited children across UK and sees first-hand the devastating impact this crime can have on victims.”

As well as Bradford, this work will be carried out in Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield, Kirklees, Plymouth, Buckinghamshire, Manchester, Bristol, Sussex, London, Birmingham, Leeds and Middlesbrough.

Last month, Barnardo's warned more funds were urgently needed to help support a growing number of sexually exploited children in Bradford.

In 2010, its Turnaround service, which covers Bradford, Wakefield and Kirklees, worked with 39 children who had been exploited but by last year that number had risen to 94 - out of those areas Bradford has the highest number of children supported by the charity.

Barnardo’s is the largest provider of child sexual exploitation support services in the UK. Last year we worked with 1,940 victims through 29 specialist services.

Anyone thinking a child is in immediate danger should dial 999. A child or young person who needs help should call Childline on 0800 1111.

The NSPCC 24 Hour Child Protection Helpline is on 0808 800 5000.