Fears about a social networking site allowing users to post their exact location online led Hertfordshire County Council to produce a video about the dangers of misusing the internet.

The animation, which can be seen on YouTube, was created following the release of Facebook Places.

This new application allows users to post their exact location and inform their online friends where they are.

However, this led to a number of calls received by the county's schools' ICT team about this new programme.

In response, the council produced an animated video using a free website to tackle any safety fears they and other adults and carers may have.

It has now been viewed more than 500 times since it was published.

A Hertfordshire County Council representative said: "Hertfordshire County Council and the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board have a responsibility to keep all children safe in the county.

"While new technology can be very exciting and motivating for young people, there are also challenges posed by extended uses of ICT. Schools and other adults working with children continue to report issues arising from misuse of technology in the county.

"Following the launch of this new function [Facebook Places] queries were made to the schools' ICT Team about the nature and use of the new functions in Facebook. While Hertfordshire County Council makes use of national resources for e-safety, there was no clear, accessible guidance for those wishing to manage this feature, and, therefore, schools and adult workers identified that they were unsure of how to either understand, manage or educate children about this aspect of Facebook.

“All enquiries about the new functions are now routed to the video, which has reduced the calls into the office and enabled children, teachers and adults working and caring for children to either understand and use the new function appropriately, or disable it."

To view the video, follow the related link on this page.