Calls for more to be done to protect children going missing from care
New stats show kids go missing on average six times across the North East
Metro Radio's lifting the lid on the shocking number of children repeatedly going missing from care in the North East.
We can reveal one in six have disappeared in North Tyneside - and it's happened an average of nearly nine times each there.
Children in care in Gateshead and Sunderland have gone missing nearly seven times, on average - for Newcastle and Northumberland's councils that number is just under five.
Across the entire region, there were 590 children who went missing from care - and more than 3,000 children incidents.
The Children's Society is now calling on local authorities to take action - warning children in care are more at risk of being exploited.
Northumberland County Council said:
"One child going missing is one child too many and we take the issue of safeguarding every child that lives in the county very seriously.
"Northumberland County Council has a well embedded approach to safeguarding children who go missing in the county, which is based on strong partnerships with Northumbria Police, neighbouring local authorities and other partners."
We've contacted all the local authorities in the North East for a statement - we'll keep this page updated with them as we get them.