A charity has left the UK shocked with reports that approximately 20 children, who were supposed to have been in the care of social services in the West Midlands, have disappeared.

Save the Children said it was most likely that the missing children have been lost to the sex trafficking industry.

The children, who were based in Birmingham and Coventry among other areas, were among 32 young people identified as being potential sex or labour slaves, the charity has said.

Hosting a conference in Birmingham, the charity said the children originated from China, Somalia, Vietnam and Bangladesh, through the people-trafficking route.

Shruti Tanna, regional manager for Save the Children, has said that it is increasingly common for children to be processed under immigration and asylum regulations, only to later vanish - probably back into the sex trade.

Tanna said: "These figures are just the tip of the iceberg. A wide variety of agencies are attending the conference and we must come up with a concerted approach to help these young people. The social services are being very positive and we need good practice - led by Government - on how to deal with this and how to see these vulnerable young people are protected and cared for in the right way."