THROUGHOUT the summer holidays, I would like to make your readers aware of the risks our children face as they potentially spend more time online - and offer some tips on how to keep them safe.

Sadly, we know many children are seeing inappropriate content online.

It's a deeply disturbing fact that children can stumble across pornography, and the ease with which children can live-stream themselves online is something all parents should be aware of.

Children with phones and tablets are effectively taking a TV crew into their bedroom and being able to broadcast to people they don't know.

We know this can leave them open to grooming and abuse and can have an effect on their emotional health and wellbeing.

We are particularly worried about grooming and children having contact with strangers online, sometimes being coerced or manipulated into sharing images.

If your child seems worried about something, talk to them.

It's vital that parents keep talking to their children about their online games and take a look together at what they are doing, who they are talking to online and what they're talking about.

You can report inappropriate behaviour or material to an organisation like CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) and we would urge anyone looking for advice or support to go to www.barnardos.org.uk

Lynn Perry, Barnardo's regional director North West.