A case of female genital mutilation (FGM) is reported in England on average every 109 minutes, children’s charity Plan UK has warned.

Official statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that 5,484 cases of FGM – an illegal practice where women’s genitalia is cut under the guise of cultural beliefs – were recorded between October 2014 and September 2015.

The new figures come on the eve of International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (February 6).

They record cases of FGM newly discovered by medical professionals, meaning some will have gone unnoticed for many years.