Tackling child exploitation online is to take a step forward with the launch of a campaign to advise children about how to use the internet safely.

The initiative will encourage children to report any inappropriate behaviour they encounter in internet chat rooms.

Working with local schools and the Child Protection Online Centre (CEOP), police will be supporting the delivery of a CEOP education pack for children aged 11 to 14.

The pack will highlight the dangers of internet grooming and offer advice on how to use the internet safely.

It follows a growing number of cases where paedophiles have used the internet to groom children.

Head of Lancashire's public protection unit, detective chief inspector Tony Bolton, said: "This initiative will potentially give us thousands of deputies who can report any inappropriate behaviour.

"With that information we can target the predatory people who are grooming children and it won't be long before they have that knock at the door."

CEOP brings together specialists from different agencies to tackle chat room abuse and promotes education about the risks associated with using the internet.

A website has been created by CEOP, designed specifically for secondary school pupils, with games, information and advice on how to stay safe on line. Log on to www.thinkuknow.co.uk.