HUNDREDS of "at risk" youngsters on the Child Protection Register are being put in danger because they are not being visited often enough by social workers.

Vulnerable children placed on the register -- which include possible victims of physical or sexual abuse or neglect -- should be seen every six weeks, but just 11 per cent of the 218 youngsters in Lancashire were seen in that time in the last year.

In Blackburn with Darwen, where there are 109 children on the 'at risk' list, the figure rose to 63 per cent but town hall bosses admitted even this was not good enough.

Councillors and a children's charity today warned the most vulnerable people in the county could die because they were not being visited frequently.

And MPs called for a meeting with the county council to discuss the problem as the head councillor of the county's social services department admitted the problem was a "cause for concern'. County council bosses gave a number of reasons, including failure of staff to fill in forms confirming visits and a lack of social workers.

The figures published by Lancashire County Council's social services department for the year 2000-2001 revealed the percentage of children visited fell from 52 per cent the previous year to just 11 per cent. There are 17 vacancies for social workers out of 180 posts and ten social worker posts are currently being advertised on the county council's website.

County Coun Chris Cheetham, responsible for social services, said youngsters were visited as often as possible and things would improve.

No figure for the current length of time between visits is available. In Blackburn with Darwen, council bosses boosted the figure with the help of a dedicated recruitment drive.

Director of social services Ken Foote has acknowledged the national crisis in recruiting social workers.

He claimed part of the reason people were leaving the job was the critical comment social workers received, even when their performance is excellent. Deputy leader Coun Sue Reid said the council was taking great strides to improve the situation.

County Coun Tom Sharratt, an independent councillor, said: "These figures are a great concern to me but what is of even greater concern is the fact that the incidents we are seeing now were happening 20 years ago and nothing has been done to end the problem."

LibDem leader on the council, Pendle member David Whipp said: "If these figures are accurate, which we have to accept they are, then we are failing some of the most vulnerable youngsters within Lancashire.

"Children are not just placed on the register for the fun of it."

Moira Gibb, president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, has said that more youngsters will die if attention is not given to improving the conditions of social workers.

But today, Pauline Oliver, director of social services at the county council, said: "We are installing a new computer system to make sure it does not happen in the future and I expect to see a rise in the figures next year.

"Sometimes a visit was just a day too late but we do need to improve."

Coun Chris Cheetham added: "It could be that some of the figures in previous years were not entirely accurate or that social workers have not been filling the forms in. "After all, they want to be out helping the children rather than doing paperwork.

"But we have to accept that something does need to be done.

"A report will be presented to the social services overview and scrutiny committee when it next meets."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "This is a serious matter of concern. I will raise it with the county council as a matter of urgency."

And Burnley MP Peter Pike added: "I shall be seeking to find out what is happening."

Alison Murphy, ChildLine's director of Children's Services, said: "Any child on the child protection register is particularly vulnerable and it is vital that they have access protection and support that is independent of their immediate carer -- primarily through regular contact with their social worker.

"It is important that children also know they can call Childline on 0800 1111 any time they are in need of comfort, advice or protection."