Penny Lancaster breaks down on Loose Women as she reveals childhood sex attack aged 12

Penny Lancaster broke down on Loose Women as she revealed she was the victim of a sex attack when she was just 12.

The model bravely told how a man attacked her under a subway while she was on her way to school.

"I had a very unfortunate incident - it was on a journey to school and I was attacked," she said, holding back tears.

"It had nothing to do with the way I looked. I could have been in a short skirt, or I could have had thick tights on, it wouldn't have mattered."

An emotional Penny said normally she would have walked to school with a group of children.

But on this occasion she had been allowed to come in late as she had choir practice the night before.

"I was attacked under a subway. Being tall and strong, I managed to fight this man off who had pulled my skirt up and wrestled with me."

A few weeks later Penny said she was in an undercover police car near the man officers thought had attacked her.

"I was the oldest, at the age of 12, who had given the same description, but unfortunately it wasn't him."

She added: "There are a lot of evil men out there who will prey on young girls no matter what they wear, so they shouldn't be to blame."

Fellow Loose Women pannellists Coleen Nolan, Sherrie Hewson and Janet Street-Porter were quick to comfort Penny, praising her for her bravery.

Just before, they had been discussing if a school in Hartlepool was right to ask parents to ensure their daughters wear tights to protect their modesty and safety or if boys should be educated to be more respectful of girls.

Penny said: "Girls and boys need to be educated about the dangers. They get educated about the internet, but it's still out there in the street.

"It's about safety in numbers. Children should definitely be advised not to travel alone," she added.