Advertising by well-known brands is fuelling the sexual exploitation of children online, Sajid Javid warns today.

On the eve of a visit today to the US to confront social media firms over their progress on tackling online abuse, the home secretary ordered experts to investigate the problem as part of his efforts to counter the threat of paedophiles to children on the internet.

It follows the discovery by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) that adverts including those from well-known brands, are appearing on illegal child abuse websites, providing them with tens of thousands of pounds in income.

Mr Javid who has commissioned the IWF to investigate the scale of the problem said: "Keeping our children safe is my mission as Home Secretary and it is vital tech companies take their responsibility seriously.

"I have demanded action and will be discussing the progress industry has made during my visit to the US - as well as seeing the latest tools being developed to detect online child grooming. This Government is leading the response against these sickening crimes.”