computer users in the North-East have been warned to ignore a hoax e-mail warning women they are under threat from abduction at petrol stations.

The message, purporting to come from the British Transport Police, says: "Be extra careful going to and from your car at night. If at all possible, don't go alone.

"This is real!!! Send this to everyone so your friends and family can take precautions."

Trading Standards Officer Jeff Bell, from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said the message was one of a growing number of urban legends.

He said: "It would seem that the web has taken over from word of mouth as the preferred method of passing on folklore.

"Regrettably, it is a much more potent system, so people should take great care before jumping to the forward button on their e-mail programme.

"This type of round-robin just generates unnecessary fear, as if there is not enough of that already."

He advised checking the validity of the e-mail in a search engine or the Urban Legends Reference Pages at www. snopes.com

Mr Bell said: "Don't be the one to alarm your friends by falling for the next urban legend."

British Transport Police Crime Reduction Officer Gerry Isterling said: "It started three of four weeks before Christmas and we've probably had over 2,000 phone calls and 2,000 e-mails about it, but I can confirm it is a hoax.