Just days after a Sheffield man was jailed for raping his daughters and fathering their children a Kent charity has said the problem exists here too.

Family Matters - which supports victims of sexual abuse - says on average at least two women a year in Kent report falling pregnant after being raped by a family member.

The charity also helps hundreds of children here who are abused at home.

~ Listen: Malcolm Gilbert explains why we need to act on child abuse >>>

Malcolm Gilbert, from Family Matters, based in Gravesend, said we need to wake up to the sheer extent of childhood sexual abuse.

No amount of Criminal Records Bureau checks or putting people on the sex offenders' register will stop the abuse.

The vast majority of abuse goes on in the home, he said.

He was speaking after a man was given 25 life sentences for abusing his daughters for more than 25 years.

Sheffield Crown Court heard if his children refused their father's request they would be punched, kicked and sometimes held to the flames of a gas fire.

He would even rape his daughters while they were pregnant.

Mr Gilbert said society generally was uncomfortable with abuse, so the issue tended to be pushed aside.

He added: "Child and sexual abuse can only exist in the dark corners of ignorance, where no-one is scrutinising it.

"As long as we are aware of its existence we go some way towards stopping it."

For more information about child and sexual abuse go to www.familymattersuk.org or call the helpline on 01474 537392.