A SHOCKING study by researchers at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston has revealed many youngsters are still not aware of the dangers lurking on the Internet.

The Preston-based university has revealed a worrying number of children have even met up with people they had met on-line -- usually unsupervised by an adult.

The statistics have been revealed as part of a survey by the Cyberspace Research Unit, who have also designed a website which offers advice to children and first-time Internet users.

The study questioned around 1,400 children aged between nine and 16 years old and found:

A third of children had never been warned about the dangers of arranging meetings with people they 'meet' over the Internet.

15 per cent said they had never been warned not to give out their address on-line.

As many as one in ten children who use chatrooms had met up with people they had met on-line.

Rachel O'Connell, head of the Cyberspace Research Unit, based in the university's Chandler Building in Corporation Street, said: "It is essential that we challenge this lack of knowledge, get the message across to children, teachers, parents and carers and help to keep children safe.

"Our research indicates that there are thousands of children in the UK who remain unaware of basic Internet safety guidelines."

The study was conducted as part of an international project, and the Cyberspace Research Unit have enlisted partners in Belgium, Greece and Ireland to help them.

A coalition of seven UK charities have also pitched in, including ChildLine, the NSPCC and the Children's Society.

John Carr, of the National Children's Home organisation, said: "The Internet is a fundamental part of young people's every day lives.

"We cannot ignore what the children questioned in this study are telling us -- that many of them do not know how to use the Internet safely."

The unit's Internet site, called For Kids By Kids Online, is written especially for children, offering advice and technical help. It can be viewed at www.fkbko.net