Record numbers of children are being arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences, new figures have revealed.

Sixteen under-18s were held in the year ending December, a rise from 10 in the previous year.

This was the highest number of arrests for the age group in a calendar year since data collection started in 2001.

The figures, published by the Home Office, showed there were a total of 280 terrorism-related arrests in 2015. This was a fall of 3% compared with the previous year.

The statistics also showed that rising numbers of women are being arrested as part of counter-terrorism probes.

Last year 45 female suspects were held - an increase of 15 on 2014. This continues an "upward trend" seen in recent years, statisticians said.

A Home Office report published alongside the figures said the overall fall in arrests was driven by a drop in the numbers held for domestic terrorism.

By contrast there was a small rise in arrests linked to international terrorism, which now accounts for more than three-quarters (79%) of all arrests.

Police and security services have been mounting an unprecedented operation to counter the threat to the UK following the rise of Islamic State.

Last week, Mark Rowley, the country's most senior counter-terrorism officer, warned that the group "has big ambitions for enormous and spectacular attacks". Authorities have foiled seven plots to attack the UK in the last 18 months.

The statistics released on Thursday chime with fears of increasing numbers of women and teenagers being drawn into extremism.

Schoolgirls and young families are among those feared to have fled the UK to join IS, which is also known as Isil or Daesh.