CHILDREN as young as nine in East Lancashire could be relying on films, soaps and magazines to find out about sex, it has been revealed.

Primary school children are being quizzed as part of a pioneering initiative to find out what young people know about sex and relationships.

And the information from children aged nine, 10 and 11 will be used to develop sex and relationship education in primary schools, first in Lancashire, and then, possibly, nationally.

Organisers hope the scheme will also help tackle the East Lancashire problem of high teenage pregnancy rates.

Five one-day conferences are being run with about 80 children and 20 teachers taking part. They are funded by the Lancashire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, a task force to cut teenage conception rates, consisting of health and council officials. Seventeen East Lancashire schools have already participated in what is believed to be one of the first schemes of its kind nationwide.

Children are asked to place true or false tags alongside statements such as "Babies come out of belly buttons", "Periods start at secondary school' or "As you get older you sweat more".

They work in small groups with a school nurse, county council teacher adviser, healthy school specialist or teenage pregnancy co-ordinator on hand to look at issues which affect them as they grow up, what they know about sex and relationship education and how it can be taught well.

The children are asked to consider what concerns might affect boys and girls differently. They are also asked which sources have provided them with the most information with a list of options including friends, siblings, magazines, films, soaps, books, church, school or parents.

Lancashire County Council teacher adviser Barbara Booth said: "This is the first time such work has been completed with children of this age in Lancashire. It's great being able to ask the children directly what they think.

"We're already seeing some interesting feedback with children tending to tick films and magazines as their sources of information rather than their parents."

Mr Peter Corbett, head teacher at Lancashire County Council-run Salesbury CE Primary school, said: "The conference was very rewarding for both pupils and staff. Sex and growing up education is easier at primary school because it is such an unique setting and the children know their teachers and each other well enough to not be frightened to ask questions.

"Many parents presume that their children are clued up by the age of 13. While there are a small number of parents who feel it is too soon, the majority are aware it has to be tackled before puberty.

Burnley MP Peter Pike welcomed the initiative.

He said: "I am delighted that once again Lancashire County Council is at the cutting edge of developing new ways of teaching."