Police are investigating after shocking claims underage girls in a Brazilian town are being offered as prizes in raffles and games of bingo.

In the world's sickest competition, depraved men in Encruzilhada, northeastern Brazil, are buying raffle tickets in which the winner gets a young girl to abuse, according to a local charity.

Hundreds of men have reportedly purchased the numbered tickets for as little as £5, with the draw eagerly awaited in the town and surrounding area.

A number of the raffles have also taken place offering virgin girls as prizes, with tickets sold at 'significantly' higher prices, it is alleged.

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Depraved: Men meet weekly and take part in the raffle where young girls, like the ones pictured here, are raffled off as prizes for paedophiles to sexual abuse

Investigation: Police in Encruzilhada, northeastern Brazil, are probing claims the town has hosted illicit raffles and games of bingo where the prize is to rape girls as young as 11

Meanwhile, a venue in the town also organises weekly bingo nights where paedophiles play for the right to abuse underage girls, British charity Meninadanca claimed.

The organisation, which works with victims of sexual exploitation in the region, said the sick games happen 'in the light of day' and with the 'knowledge of most people - even the police.'

Local lawyer Michael Farias, who investigated the raffles, told MailOnline that the competition is so well known that men came from surrounding towns in the region, in the south of Brazil's state of Bahia.

The gang would produce the numbered tickets with the young girl that was up for grabs. Various girls were raffled, who were aged between eleven and 17 Local lawyer Michael Farias

He said: 'The gang would produce the numbered tickets with the young girl that was up for grabs. Various girls were raffled, who were aged between eleven and 17.

'It was talked about by men for miles around, and tickets were sold far and wide. When the girl was found to be a virgin, the price of the tickets would go up significantly. The draw to find out which ticket holder would win the girl was a big event and awaited eagerly by these men.

'The gang made a lot of money from the abuse of the girls, who felt they had no choice.'

The shocking allegations will heap more pressure on Brazil to protect children and clamp down on child prostitution in the run up to next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Children's charities have warned of a surge in underage prostitution and trafficking because of the event, when the Latin American country is expected to receive more than 6.5 million foreign visitors.

Sickening: Tickets to the vile raffles are sold to men in the region for as little as £5, although the price is 'significantly' higher when the star prize is a young virgin, a report by a British-based charity claimed

Exploitation: Children's charity Meninadanca said that sex abuse and young prostitution in poor parts of rural Brazil are rife as people there turn a blind eye to the abuse

The country, where 40 million people live in extreme poverty, already has the second highest rate of child prostitution in the world, with studies estimating as many as half a million children involved in the sex trade.

According to the Meninadanca group, the abuses uncovered in southern Bahia state are typical of the country's rural, isolated towns in poor regions where young girls have traditionally been seen as a source of income.

In our experience, families routinely push their young daughters into prostitution, and men seek the services of girls as young as 10 and 11 without an inhibitions, because it is rarely seen as a crime Warlei Torezani, Meninadanca

The towns are situated close to the BR-116 motorway, Brazil's longest and busiest road, and dubbed the 'exploitation highway' because of the high rate of child prostitution found along it.

Warlei Torezani, from Meninadanca, said: 'As shocking as these reports are, we are not at all surprised to hear them.

'In many poor areas of rural Brazil, particularly those along major highways where prostitution is ingrained in the local culture, the sexual exploitation of children has become the norm and not the exception.

'In our experience, families routinely push their young daughters into prostitution, and men seek the services of girls as young as 10 and 11 without an inhibitions, because it is rarely seen as a crime.

'Often the people who are supposed to be protecting children from harm are the ones who are involved in the exploitation.

'The raffles and bingo of girls in Encruzilhada are no different. They take place in the light of day, with the knowledge and acquiesence of most people. Despite the actions of a few to try to stop them, most of those with the power to do so, including the police and social services, turn a blind eye.

Lawyer Michael Farias told MailOnline: 'The gang would produce the numbered tickets with the young girl that was up for grabs. Various girls were raffled, who were aged between eleven and 17.'

Probe: The police station in Encruzilhada, where the paedophile ring is being investigated. Detectives there have passed the file to state prosecutors

'This isn't the image of Brazil that the government wants the world to know about, particularly as it hosts the greatest show on earth. But, tragically for thousands of young girls living in rural parts of the country, it is the reality.'

Fabio Dias, a children's councillor from neighbouring town Candido Sales, investigated separate claims that girls were prizes in bingos.

He said: 'We heard from a number of girls that in one house in the town men would go to play bingo. The girl was paraded in front of the players before the game, and whoever won would abuse her immediately in a room in the establishment.

'Many people knew about this bingo, and despite our reports to the police nothing has yet been done to stop it.

'I'm ashamed to say that in this part of our country child sexual exploitation has become a common part of life. Everybody knows where to go to find an underage girl, and parents think nothing of selling their own daughters. It is the shame of Brazil.'

Last night Arilando Botelho, Encruzilhada's civil police chief, confirmed an investigation into the raffles had taken place and was being studied by the town's public prosecutor's office.