Nearly 200 Cumbrian children have been convicted or cautioned for carrying knives, as we reported earlier this year.

Since 2011, at least 21 youngsters have been jailed and scores more handed community sentences and cautions for knife crime – and some of them were repeat offenders.

The true scale of the issue could be higher as Ministry of Justice figures cover only offences linked to possessing a blade or using one to threaten others.

Our analysis of MoJ data shows nine children convicted or cautioned last year are among 194 under-18s to have been investigated by Cumbria Constabulary for knife crime in a decade.

Most were older teenagers when convicted but 86 were 15 or under, while 20 were repeat offenders.

The stabbing at Walney School is just one of the shocking cases that illustrate the horrific impact of child knife crime in our county.

In January, a 16-year-old was arrested and later charged with attempted murder after the 15-year-old victim was airlifted to hospital from the school with serious stab injuries.

And in March, three teens were apprehended after a man was repeatedly stabbed in Fletcher Park in Kendal.

While knife crime remains rare in Cumbria in comparison to other areas of the country, the county’s police force are never complacent about the issue.

Earlier this year, Chief Inspector Gill Cherry said Cumbria Constabulary worked closely with partner agencies to enforce the law and tackle the problem through education.

Op Divan was launched last November to educate and support youngsters where it is suspected they may be carrying a knife or other weapon.

CI Cherry said it provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the consequences of knife crime.

She added: “We don’t want to see any young person unnecessarily criminalised because they didn’t know the consequences of carrying a knife or they were unaware of the support available to them.

“Hopefully this initiative will help young people to make better, more positive decisions going forward.”

The Ben Kinsella Trust was established in the name of a London boy murdered by older teenagers in 2008.

The charity’s CEO Patrick Green said Cumbria’s shock statistics prove knife crime is no longer a 'big city problem'.

He added: “It is appearing in more and more towns across the country.

“Knife crime destroys lives, families, and communities.

“That is why it is important that we ensure that those who chose to carry knives are brought to justice.

“But it is also important that we do far more to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives.

“Prevention and early intervention are every bit as important as enforcement when tackling this problem.”

A Government spokeswoman highlighted early intervention and prevention programmes established within Violence Reduction Units in an attempt to divert people away from crime.

She added: “Each young life lost to violence is one too many and we are determined to tackle serious violence.

“All educational establishments, including colleges and further education providers, are required to work with the partners responsible for developing and delivering local responses to serious violence.”