THE mum of a teenage Ribble Valley girl who sparked a nationwide search after running off to meet an internet stranger has welcomed plans by Microsoft to axe its chatrooms.
The company's British operation, MSN UK, announced yesterday that from October 14 all chatrooms will be closed, except in New Zealand and Brazil, where a monitoring system will be introduced.
Julie Baines, is the mum of Amy Singleton, who left her home in Crumpax Avenue, Longridge, in March last year after meeting up with a male friend she met through an internet chatroom.
She was missing from home for five days before being traced to the home of a 16-year-old boy in Reading.
The internet has since been banned in the family's home.
Julie said: "I am absolutely delighted at the news that Microsoft is to close its chatrooms.Hopefully, the other companies will follow suit."
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