Police have launched an investigation into child exploitation in the Torbay area.

And parents in Teignbridge who send their children to schools in the bay have received a letter from Torbay Children's Services alerting them to the situation.

The inquiry called Operation Mansfield focuses on several potential victims.

The police are arranging to speak to them.

The investigation is in its early stages and no arrests have been made.

The letter from Torbay Children's Services states: 'None of this exploitation has occurred in any Torbay school, but I am informing you about the investigation because I recognise that there will be a real concern that this sort of thing is happening within our community.

'The investigation does involve a number of young people and those young people are being actively supported by their school, the police, children's services and the NHS.

'Equally, there is a lot of work under way investigating the abuse and applying the full force of the law to those who have caused it.

'For the great majority of students, life will go on as usual. The investigation involves a very small number of the total population of young people in Torbay.

'This means that most young people are not at risk of sexual exploitation. Our schools remain a safe and caring haven for students where they are well protected from harm.'

A police spokesman said: 'We are working with partners in Torbay including the Children's Safeguarding Board, Children's Services, Health and Education to provide support to the victims throughout this inquiry.

'By default the majority of the victims either attend or have attended local comprehensive schools in Torbay.

'A letter was sent out sent out to parents of children attending any of these schools on Wednesday.'

The police representative also confirmed that the letter was sent to schools in Teignbridge as a precaution.

'It is not thought at this stage that any children from the Teignbridge area are involved in the investigation,' he said.

Torbay Girls' Grammar School and Torquay Boys' Grammar School, both of which take students from Teignbridge, confirmed letters had been sent to all parents.

Teign School, Kingsteignton, headteacher Vyv Game said he knew nothing about the investigation.

Both Teignmouth communty College and South Dartmoor School, Ashburton, said they heard about the matter only through the news.

Newton Abbot College, Newton Abbot, has said it would not comment on the matter and referred this paper to the police.

No-one at Coombeshead College, Newton Abbot, or Dawlish community College was available for comment.

Anyone with information or concerns should call the police on 08452 777444 and quoting Operation Mansfield.