THE results of the survey have raised “safeguarding” concerns about children in Barrow, Furness and Copeland, according to Barnardo’s.

Julie Fletcher, a children’s services manager for the charity, said there are clear differences depending on where children lived.

She said: “We didn’t have any safeguarding concerns about what children were writing until we started to look at what children from Copeland and Furness were saying – there was a big change in what they were worried about and what their experience was. 

"There are some commonalities but there are some very stark differences.”

The survey shows that Furness has higher rates of children with special needs, poverty and obesity than the Cumbria or national average.

Furness is also behind the county and national average for pupils achieving the expected levels in reading, writing and maths.

There are also more hospital admissions for “unintentional or “deliberate” injuries to children in Furness.

Mrs Fletcher said the survey had reached one in three children aged eight-to-12.

She said: “The next steps is how we can look at what this survey is telling us and ask whether it is challenging us on what we thought was the case or is it telling us something new.

“We need to look at how we can use this area-specific data to inform services for children and families.”

The plan is to host an event for those who took part to ensure they knew their voice had been heard, she said.

Cllr Anne Burns, the cabinet member for children’s services in Cumbria, said the survey offered the authorities a unique insight into life as a child.

“It has been a really fantastic piece of work because the amount of young people and children who have made their voices heard,” said Cllr Burns, the Labour councillor for Hindpool.

“We don’t want to lose this information now, because it’s a great document and we must not let it sit on the shelf,” she said.

Cllr Shirley Evans, a children’s champion for South Lakeland, said despite the results children did not feel threatened by terrorism in Cumbria.

She said the issue had widespread media coverage and had become an issue of concern, rather than a direct threat.

Cllr Evans said: “We still need to appreciate the traumatic effect flooding has had on children. We are still seeing, especially when we have very wet weather, mums who say that their child will pack up their favourite things, just in case they have to leave suddenly.”

Cllr Evans, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Kendal Nether, added: “The fact that in this day and age children are putting down an answer about having enough food is truly, truly shocking.”