PARENTS are being urged to check their child's mobile phone after a Nantwich school discovered evidence of pupils abusing new technology to access pornography.

Brine Leas High School in Audlem Road has taken immediate action after staff discovered that a number of youngsters were storing pornography on their mobile phones and circulating the videos to other pupils.

The school also found internet message boards and emails were being used for covert bullying.

The discoveries follow revelations in last week's Guardian about police investigations into an alleged 'happy slapping' incident at neighbouring Malbank School and Sixth Form College.

School staff have taken immediate action to quell their 'growing concerns' and have reported the websites in question to the government's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

A letter has also been written to parents urging them to be vigilant.

Deputy headteacher Andrew Cliffe said: "This reflects the school's growing concerns regarding the use of some websites and also the content of some children's mobile telephones.

"The school was already aware of some of the issues through its monitoring of the internet.

"The school is able to use filters in order to restrict access to some internet sites from the school computers.

"Some of the video phones used by children have pornographic downloads and these are also causing the school concern.

"Many parents are not aware of either the content of some websites nor their child's telephone.

"By taking the unusual step of posting letters to all pupils we hope to address the issues involved."

The school made the discoveries in a routine sweep of internet usage on its computers, which is carried out to monitor and regularise the information available to pupils.

The latest sweep uncovered instances of students giving out personal information.

Following the discovery of pornographic videos, the school is also reconsidering its mobile phones policy.

Any phone found containing indecent images will be confiscated and its owner will be punished.

A complete ban on mobile phones could be introduced if existing regulations fail to have an impact.

In the letter to parents, headteacher Mike Butler writes: "Carrying this out revealed a potentially dangerous and worrying situation.

"A number of pupils have put personal information on the web that could lead to serious problems.

"None of this has been done in school as we have extensive internet and email filtering systems in place which block these activities.

"There are also instances of bullying taking place via some websites in the form of online messages and postings."

He added: "It has come to our attention that some pupils have pornographic downloads on their mobile telephones.

"I would urge you to check your child's phone."