A Kent MP has revealed that he was stabbed as a teenager and has pleaded with the county's youngsters not to stay silent over knife crime.

Speaking exclusively to the Thanet Extra, South Thanet MP Stephen Ladyman told for the first time of the attack in Birkenhead, near Liverpool.

Aged 15, he was stabbed as he walked home from school by another youngster he had regarded as his friend.

Dr Ladyman did not report the attack to the police and kept the incident a secret from his parents but hopes his experience will encourage children to speak out.

He said: "Although we need to say that knife crime is not tolerable in our society, we shouldn't tar all kids with the same brush. The vast majority of youngsters are law-abiding.

"Nowadays, many children feel threatened and won't come forward to the police or their parents to report knife crime but it's absolutely vital that every attack is reported."

A recent survey found that 45 per cent of secondary schoolchildren in Dr Ladyman's constituency believe that crime should be the government's top priority.

In an effort to tackle knife crime, mnisters have suggested that children caught carrying weapons should be given "restorative" forms of punishment, such as cleaning up their neighbourhoods.

Dr Ladyman added: "One of the reasons that kids carry knives is because they don't feel safe and we need to address that."