A CD-ROM to help young people steer clear of mobile phone theft has been launched by Government Minister Hazel Blears and Bury MP Ivan Lewis.

Aimed at 11- to 14-year-olds, the Out of Your hands disc provides an interactive resource where children can learn how to avoid the growing problem of phone theft and find out what to do if their phone is lost or stolen.

It also includes a competition for youngsters to design a mobile phone of the future with built-in safety features.

The disc, funded by the Home Office and the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum, will be made available to every school in the country.