Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, is urging recipients of Christmas gadgets to shield against online scams and viruses.

Peter McCall suggested several safety measures including setting up parental controls on children's devices to monitor app use, securing Bluetooth connections to stop illegitimate access, and capping screen time for younger children.

He said: "Many of us will have received new laptops, phones, tablets, etc.

"It is vital that we ensure all our electronics that can be connected to the internet, have some form of anti-virus software on them."

He also advised a visit to the Get Safe Online in Cumbria website for information on digital safety, saying "prevention is the key to reduce the likelihood that we fall victim to an online scam or being hacked".

He added: "By taking five to 10 minutes to read up on the latest news around cyber safety, we can all enjoy a safer Christmas.”