Female genital mutilation on the rise in Blackburn with Darwen

And there have been 10 cases in which women and girls have been subject to the cruel procedure in the borough in the first three months of this year alone.

That compares to five cases in the whole of the year from April 2017 to March 2018, according to the NHS Digital data.

Increased awareness and more reporting of FGM has been cited as the main reason for the rise in cases in other areas of the country.

Since July 2017, there have been 45 cases of FGM in the borough.

FGM is a violent form of child abuse and has been illegal in the UK for over 30 years.

Cllr Brian Taylor, health and wellbeing assistant executive at Blackburn with Darwen Council described FGM as abhorrent.

He said: "It's not something we welcome in the borough at all.

"Our aim as a council is to eradicate it and educate people."

Children's charity the NSPCC said the figure for the number of girls and women affected is likely to be much higher.

A spokesman said: “Sadly, the true picture of how many girls and women are affected by this abhorrent crime is likely to be much higher because for far too long the practice of FGM has been cloaked in secrecy.

“Since we launched our dedicated FGM helpline we have had thousands of calls, and in 2017/18 we referred 82 cases to the authorities.

“By encouraging communities to speak out we hope to bring an end to this dangerous and illegal practice in the UK.”

Carried out in secret and often without anaesthetic, FGM involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

Victims are usually aged between four and ten, but some are babies.

Girls are often forcibly restrained and it can leave victims in agony and with physical and psychological problems that can continue into adulthood.

Anyone who is concerned that a child is at risk of or has experienced FGM can speak to an NSPCC FGM helpline advisors on 0800 028 3550 or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk