The NSPCC wants to see a new law created to ensure that social media companies crack down on grooming

It is time to intorduce laws to prevent online grooming of children a charity has said.

The NSPCC says social media companies have failed to crack down on the problem. An average seven cases of adults grooming children are reported in the UK every day.

The charity is calling on UK digital secretary Matt Hancock to bring an end to social media companies going unchecked online, and has also stressed social media companies need to do more to prevent online sexual abuse.

Its Wild West Web campaign is asking for supporters to contact Hancock to ensure concerns are heard as new digital legislation is considered.

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said children as young as 13 are being contacted by adults who they do not know online. It's Net Aware project provides support to parents on how to keep their children safe onine.

He said: “Our research shows children are being exposed to inappropriate and harmful content across a range of social networking sites and games, from the big names to those perhaps lesser known to parents.

“That’s why it’s so important for parents to download the Net Aware app so they can keep up to speed with new sites, apps and games as they appear and the risks they present.”