Pupils 'need early porn warning'

42% of parents believe schools should teach children about the dangers of pornography as soon as they are old enough to use the internet, a survey suggests.

It reveals that the majority of parents do not want it to be left to them alone to educate their youngsters about the controversial issue, and a large proportion think that pupils as young as five or six should be given lessons on the subject.

The survey, which questioned around 1,000 parents, found that six in ten parents are worried or very worried about their sons and daughters seeing violent or sexual material on the web.

But the poll also reveals that the majority (80%) of parents feel confident in protecting their children online.

While just over half (51%) said that pupils should not be taught about the dangers of pornography until they are teenagers, 42% said that they should be educated as soon as they are old enough to access the internet, even if they are as young as five or six.

More than eight in ten (83%) said issues around pornography should form part of sex education lessons.