Parents are more concerned about their children being bullied or run over than being victims of paedophiles, according to a survey by a children's charity.

A report commissioned by the Children's Society into why fewer children are playing outside found that a quarter of youngsters did not use outside play space because they feared being bullied by older children.

Just 15 per cent of children said they did not play where they wanted to because their parents feared they would targeted by strangers while 17 per cent worried about the dangers of passing traffic.

The findings, published on Wednesday, are part of the National Playday campaign, backed by the government, to encourage more children to make use of open spaces.

Tessa Jowell, who was one of the cabinet ministers at the centre of the row over Channel 4's controversial Brass Eye programme on paedophiles, said it was important children were allowed to use open spaces.

"I believe that it is particularly important to offer children play spaces which, while being challenging and exciting, are safe, accessible and close enough to where children live to be a familiar landscape from an early age. Play is at the heart of a happy childhood experience," she said.