All children have access to computers these days, but parents can often feel left behind by new technology.

The Internet has become a vital tool for communication, and the majority of children will be perfectly safe on line.

Chat rooms are particularly popular with teenagers and cases of adults "grooming" youngsters by building up a relationship with them or paedophiles posing as young people, while thankfully rare, do come to the police's attention.

The good news is that a few sensible precautions can help keep children safe.

Emphasise that everyone in a chat room is a stranger, even though the child may consider them a friend. Encourage the child to stay in the public areas of a chat room, where they should be safer, rather than having a one-to-one conversation, and remind them not to give away contact details or personal information such as where they live or go to school - or even where their favourite pizza restaurant is.

Make sure they know never to meet anyone they have met online without taking a responsible adult.

If possible, keep the computer in a family room to keep an eye on the sites children are using.

At this time of year complaints to the police about anti-social behaviour rise through the misuse of fireworks.

Unfortunately, it is also a busy time of year for our colleagues in the ambulance service as they deal with burns and injuries.

Please have fun but stay safe and be considerate.

The police recommend attending an organised display, but if you do decide to have a private party, it is only fair to warn the neighbours so they can keep pets indoors, and make sure the noise doesn't go on too late.

The website www.dti/gov.uk/fire works has lots of information on using fireworks safely, including sections for adults, children, pet owners, teachers and traders.

CHIEF INSP JIM BAKER