Schoolchildren as young as seven have been given a booklet containing graphic information about how to spot sexual abuse.

The guide, produced by charity Childline, tells young children what sexual abuse is and includes a quiz asking them to identify situations that constitute abuse.

In a magazine crammed with colourful cartoons they are asked to spot the abuse situation out of three scenarios.

A goodnight cuddle from mum and a trip to the doctor are the first two options in the chapter headed Hands Off! It's My Body! and What's Safe What's not?

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The third option states: 'Your uncle promises you a new MP3 player if you take your knickers off and sit on his lap.'

The 20-page booklet, entitled In The Know and looking at all kinds of child abuse, was handed out to Year 3 pupils at Thomas A Becket School in Worthing, West Sussex, on the last day before the half-term.

But after complaints from parents the school was forced to issue a swift letter recalling the booklet.

Last night the local education authority admitted the literature, aimed at an age group of eight to 11, should have been checked more thoroughly before being distributed.

Parents meanwhile said the material was 'totally wrong'.

Father-of-two Michael Auty, 37, said the book could do more harm than good.

'I think it's totally wrong for this to be aimed even at 11-year-olds. It's putting ideas in their heads.

'I don't want my kids to look at their uncles and think, "He might try and do something to me." It would harm the family.

'It's up to parents to explain to kids what they should do if they find themselves in a particular situation but the language in this booklet is just too graphic.'

Fellow parent Jeanette Seba, 32, who has an 8-year-old daughter, said: 'I obviously worry about her, but I don't think it's up to anyone but me and maybe her teachers to decide how to approach the subject.

'Just feeding all kids this information is asking for trouble. It makes all adults look sinister.'

Another parent, who did not want to be named, said that the message was reasonable but that it had been delivered in the wrong way.

Headmistress Pauline Warren wrote to parents this week telling them she had destroyed any booklets that had not already been taken home by kids.

She said: 'Parents may find some of this information sensitive for their children and inappropriate.

'If the booklet is in your child's possession, remove it and read it yourself.'

Checks are now being carried out to see whether other children under eight have been given the booklet.

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