MORE than a third of North-East 11 to 17-year-olds think watching pornography is normal for young people, a survey has found.

According to a questionnaire by the NSPCC's ChildLine service, 27 per cent of young people in the region quizzed said they had seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset them, while eight per cent had made or been part of a sexually explicit video.

The study found that 36 per cent of young people in the North-East said watching porn made them feel insecure about their own body, but 34 per cent thought that watching porn was a normal part of young people's lives.

The figures form part of a UK-wide survey of 2,000 children and young people aged 11 to 17 which was conducted by One Poll in February 2015.

Nationally, the study found that nearly one in ten 12 to 13-year-olds were worried they were addicted to porn.

The survey was conducted to mark the launch of ChildLine FAPZ campaign (the Fight Against Porn Zombies) which aims to raise awareness and provide advice to young people about the harmful implications of an over exposure to porn.

Peter Liver, director of ChildLine, said: “We know from the young people who contact ChildLine, that viewing porn is a part of every-day life, and our poll shows that one in five 12 to 13-year-olds think that watching porn is normal behaviour.

"However, even more worryingly, they also tell ChildLine that watching porn is making them feel depressed, giving them body image issues, making them feel pressured to engage in sexual acts they’re not ready for and some even feel they are addicted to porn.”

Dame Esther Rantzen, the founder of ChildLine, said she was shocked that children as young as 11 were contacting the service with concerns about porn.

She added: "Young people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships.

“We absolutely have to talk to young people about sex, love, respect and consent as soon as we feel they are ready, to ensure that they gain a proper perspective between real life relationships and the fantasy world of porn."

If you are concerned about a child, encourage them to visit ChildLine’s FAPZ campaign at www.childline.org.uk/fapz, or talk to ChildLine anonymously on 0800-1111 or online www.childline.org.uk.