A young person signs up to use Facebook. PHOTO: James Bass.

Parents have been urged to attend a hastily-convened meeting to discuss children’s safety on the internet after a Sheringham High School student was befriended by an “imposter” with a false name.

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Police web abuse specialists from London were contacted after the student - who has not been identified - reported worries about the behaviour of one of her “friends” on social networking site Facebook.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) detectives soon found out that “Jenny Radcliffe” was a false name and that “she” could even be a “male imposter”.

Now, amid fears that the same person may have befriended many other local youngsters, Sheringham High head Tim Roderick has arranged a “parents’ and carers’ guide to the internet” meeting on Tuesday February 21.

In a letter sent home to all parents at the end of half-term, Mr Roderick said the problem came to light when the student “disclosed to a senior member of staff” about what was happening with the “so-called friend”.

He said Ceop was “contacting Facebook to close down” the account running under the name of Jenny Radcliffe and the police had been informed.

He added: “Tutors have spoken again to students about online safety and the need to be very careful as to who they have as their friend.

“We already had in place after half-term year group assemblies on online safety and we’ll be reiterating to students the dangers of accepting people they don’t know as their friends on Facebook.

“Our advice is clear: students should only have a Facebook friend if they have met the person and subsequently want them to be their friend.”

Mr Roderick urged parents and carers to help their children use the internet “appropriately and safely”. He said: “No student should be using Facebook if they are under 13.

“If you have not already done so, please talk to your child about what they do online, who they are communicating with, who they have as their friends and what controls are in place.”

His advice included:

● keeping the computer in a family room

● putting a digital lock on broadband access at a certain time each night if your child has access to the internet in their bedroom

● knowing what your children are doing online and who they are talking to

● ensure that your children do not give out personal information online.

The meeting, at 7pm in the school hall on February 21, is open to parents and carers only.