An inquiry into institutional child sex abuse is to launch in Liverpool.

The first stage of the independent inquiry, the Truth Project, will pilot in the city next week with the view to expanding across the country.

The project allows victims and survivors to share their experience with the Inquiry during private sessions or via written statements.

Information received will be turned into anonymous summaries to inform the inquiries reports and recommendations.

Some of the institutions involved are the armed forces, local authorities, the media, schools, the NHS , religion organisations and voluntary and private organisations.

The inquiry aims to identify organisations and institutions that have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse.

On the panel is Alexis Jay whose Rotherham report sparked the nationwide debate and investigation into child sex abuse.

The sessions will run for three weeks and people who come forward will remain anonymous.

Panel member Drusilla Sharpling said: “We want to enable victims or survivors to come forward.

“We know child abuse is under-reported, sometimes when they have come forward it hasn’t been dealt with properly by the institution. We want to change that.

“I don’t think Liverpool is alone in the rise in reports and we still don’t know the true levels of child sex abuse in our institutions.”

Merseyside Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (RASA) manager, Jo Wood, said: “Everyday RASA work with the victims and survivors of sexual violence, providing counselling and specialist support to help people recover.

“It’s a really important part of the independent inquiry that victims and survivors of child sexual abuse have the opportunity to share their experiences but equally important for organisations like ours that they also get given access to the appropriate support before, during and afterwards.”