Vulnerable children in Croydon are set to benefit from £500,000 set aside to end sexual abuse and exploitation.

The council, police and charity Barnardo's will share the £500,000 Government grant announced today to set up a three-year project to stop child sexual exploitation and to find and help missing children.

According to the council, Croydon has been targeted because it has the biggest child population in London and has been highlighted as a centre of exploitation of children.

Deputy council leader Steve O'Connell said Croydon's work was made harder by the large number of children who are, or have been in care and a high incidence of children going missing from care, home and school.

He said the project would also try to steer children away from drugs, gangs and crime.

The £500,000 will be used to employ a missing children's worker to help 50 children a year and a sexual exploitation officer to help another 30.

Barnardo's will run sexual exploitation training for volunteer groups and a Met Police officer will be dedicated to gathering intelligence to support action to end the problem.

"I am pleased that our bid to protect Croydon's vulnerable children has been successful," Coun O'Connell said.

"This is a significant contribution to our work to make Croydon safer for everyone.

"There is a need for intervention in the area of sexual exploitation of children and young people."