Rishi Sunak has been urged to tackle a surge in child abuse images created by artificial intelligence when he gathers world leaders to discuss the technology later this year.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which monitors and blocks such material online, said the Prime Minister must specifically outlaw AI-generated abuse images, and pressure other countries to do the same.

It came as the IWF confirmed for the first time that it was removing cases of AI-generated child abuse images, including the most severe “category A” illegal material.

It said it had confirmed seven web pages containing the images after receiving 29 reports, and had discovered a “manual” being shared on how to use AI tools to make the pictures.

The IWF said AI had the potential to create an unprecedented number of child abuse images, which in turn could endanger real children.