The number of young people in Cheshire East referred to a safeguarding programme after being identified as being at risk of radicalisation has increased by 35 per cent over the past year.

And most referrals to the Channel safeguarding programme are children aged between 11 and 17.

Jill Broomhall, director of adults' social care operations, told Cheshire East's adults and health committee the council had updated its Prevent programme and Channel Panel.

"Prevent is part of the UK's Contest counter terrorism strategy and the aim being to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

"Channel Panel is a multi-agency safeguarding programme for individuals who have been identified as being at risk of radicalisation," said Mrs Broomhall.

"Following the death of Sir David Amess MP and the Southport incidents last year, the Home Office led a learning review, which identified some missed opportunities in the Prevent programme and, as a result, some significant changes have been made in Prevent and Channel policy.

"These include broader inclusion of individuals who show a fascination with extreme violence.

"Previously, it was for those individuals who had an identifiable ideology of violence – that has now been extended to include extreme fascination with violence in general."

Mrs Broomhall said most of the referrals in Cheshire East are children and young people aged between 11 and 17.

She added: "Following the Southport incidents, there have been numerous referrals.

"The referral rate has increased by about 35 per cent of young people into Channel, which means that our Channel Panels, which normally would run for half a day once a month, potentially could run for two days per month now."

Cllr Stewart Gardiner (Knutsford, Con) said: "I am particularly concerned with those over 17 who might, because of other reasons, be taken in by some of the messaging, particularly that they will see online – people with SEND (special educational needs) or other fascinations with things.

"So how do we deal with those?"

Mrs Broomhall said the council is seeking funding from the Home Office to undertake training in schools and colleges to make young people much more aware of the risks of accessing some online content.

"All of our staff are now trained in Channel and Prevent guidance, as is every school in Cheshire East, every school governor and every education establishment, we're now going to be delivering some training out to actual young people themselves," she said.

"We will extend that training to any of the colleges for those people with a learning disability and autism.

"And all of our staff are very aware when working with individuals just to check their online content, because it is those people who could be influenced."