COMMUNICATIONS have revolutionised our lives in so many ways.

Everyone is more accessible by phone, and we can now even take and send pictures to each other that way or by email - a situation people like me with family far away have blessed many times.

These improvements have shrunk the world, but, as often happens with hi-tech developments there is a price to be paid. And health fears relating to mobile phones is one of them.

In theory, giving mobile phones to children is an excellent idea.

They can ring and tell you where they are to keep in touch with concerned parents, or demand a lift from gymnastics or their teen club. They can dramatically reduce domestic phone bills by funding their own mobile calls, and discuss the most mind-numbing trivia in great detail with their best friend at any time of the day or night (though this, of course, is not always a good thing, especially on a school night!).

In 2005, it is thought that a quarter of all primary age schoolchildren and 90 per cent of youngsters under 16 have a mobile phone.

But, the National Radiological Protection Board, which advises the Government on radiation safety issues, is counselling a "precautionary approach" to the use of mobile phones.

And studies in Sweden and Germany reveal that exposure to radiation levels lower than current guidelines could cause biological harm.

This is worrying news for every sensible parent. In fact, Sir William Stewart, chairman of the NRPB, says that children under the age of eight should not have their own phone.

"I don't think we can put our hands on our hearts and say mobile phones are safe", he states, and that's enough for me.

Children have thinner skulls and still developing nervous systems that may be at risk.This is now a dilemma for parents of youngsters, and I don't envy them because the mobile phone is a handy safety tool. However, this is a time for common sense and, although youngsters will put their parents under immense pressure on this one, there may be a need for some straight talking. This time, it may need to be face to face.