Parents trying to protect their children from paedophiles often ignore the computer lurking in their home.

It can be all too easy for a cunning sex criminal to lure innocent children by using the world wide web.

Now the Home Office is renewing its safer surfing campaign which aims to make youngsters and those looking after them more aware of the dangers.

There have been several sickening cases in Sussex already of people downloading obscene pictures and committing sex crimes after meeting people on line.

It is welcoming to see Sussex Police are backing the campaign and are taking measures to warn parents of the danger.

The internet can be an amazing vehicle for providing quick and useful information on thousands of subjects for youngsters.

But perverts are clever in using chat rooms and other aspects of new technology to speak to children for the wrong reasons.

Parents must make sure their children are aware that strangers on the internet can spell trouble for them.