EIGHT per cent of secondary school students have admitted in a North Yorkshire County Council survey that they sometimes carry a weapon for protection when they go out.

And a similar percentage said they had been the victim of violence or aggression.

The authority canvassed the views of 17,000 young people across the county, including the South Craven area, on a range of issues.

Findings are used to help evaluate current trends and what improvements could be made to children's services.

The survey also found that increasing numbers of youngsters were less likely to communicate with people they had only met online.

Fewer pupils, compared to when the last research was conducted in 2014, had experienced negative behaviour in the classroom.

And more year-two children said they would opt for eating fruit and veg.

The survey, Growing Up in North Yorkshire, was carried out in partnership with schools and also covered issues such as attitudes towards learning and sexual health.

Pete Dwyer, corporate director of North Yorkshire's children and young people's service, said: "It is probably the largest such survey conducted in the country and gives incredibly rich insights into

the changing lives of young people.

"It provides analysis which helps us to understand where positive changes in their views have occurred and where more needs to be done.

"The findings will be debated at an individual school level and at a number of key strategic partnerships in the county, but we must go beyond debate and ensure we fully listen and respond to this rich collective expression of young people's voices."

County Councillor Arthur Barker, executive member for schools, said: "We give the highest priority to children and young people's health and wellbeing in order to help them achieve their potential and to give them the best foundation for the future.

"This survey provides invaluable information to improve services across a whole range of areas."