PARENTS are being warned to check their children's social media accounts after a primary school pupil was sent messages encouraging her to send pictures of herself.

Schools have sent out letters to parents this week following the incident and police have been informed.

Westhoughton High School is one of the schools to have issued a letter.

The school which the girl attends has not been identified

The letter states: "One of our primary headteachers has informed me that they have a year six pupil who has been contacted via the internet and sent messages via an Instagram account.

"These messages were encouraging the pupil to download Skype and KIK and send photographs of herself to the account.

"The police have been contacted and, as far as they are concerned, they are treating this as a first attempt at grooming."

The letter also stated: "As this child is in one of our feeder primaries, it is quite possible that 'friends' all follow one another's friends and so they could be following or being followed by the person who is operating this account."

It concludes by urging parents to check the accounts and message of their children, and to block as appropriate.

Phil Hart, headteacher of Westhoughton High School, said he would be contacting local primary schools to raise awareness of the risk.

He said: "We believe e-safety is a very relevant issue for our students, parents and carers and whist we recognise that the internet is a great tool for research, communication and fun, it can at times hold dangers which our young people need to be aware of.

"We take our commitment to safeguarding our students very seriously and this includes ensuring that they are empowered with the knowledge to stay safe whenever they go online.

"Helping our young people to develop safer on line behaviours helps them to learn and understand how to use technology in a positive way and so our e-safety policy is built into our taught curriculum.

"Internet safety is an important life skill for young people and one which they are increasingly aware of its importance.

"I would encourage all parents to support their children to develop good habits and oversea on-line activities, just as they would with 'road' and 'stranger' dangers."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "We have been made aware of a safeguarding incident and informed all schools as a precaution and so they can share information with their parents. We have advised that parents check their children’s social networking accounts regularly to monitor them for unusual activity or friends requests.

"Schools have access to our latest online safety policy and guidance, which is there to assist them in keeping their pupils safe online."