THE Internet is a wonderful invention which has revolutionised communication and education. In countless ways, it has changed the world.

Sadly, it has also served to highlight the darker side of modern society.

Two stories in The Northern Echo today combine to remind us of the dangers of the worldwide web.

The fact that a young student can so easily obtain prescription drugs over the Internet will alarm every parent.

Liam Brackell, a student at the University of Durham, killed himself after becoming addicted to drugs he had bought online.

He found drugs so easily accessible from unscrupulous companies that 300 anti-depressant tablets arrived in one day. Just as the Government is striving to shut the floodgates of online pornography, so it must step up its efforts to put an end to the peddling of drugs on the Internet.

And on the day we report on the inquest into Liam's death, we also publish news that a local school has had to remove photographs of youngsters from the Internet because of fears over paedophiles.

The children from Timothy Hackworth Primary School, Shildon, were pictured simply enjoying their sports day - images which traditionally capture the innocence and joy of childhood.

We fully understand the reasons for having the pictures removed. Education authorities have to do everything they can to protect youngsters from potential abuse.

But where will it all end? In some parts of the country, newspapers are already being being banned from taking photographs of sports days and nativity plays.

Mothers, fathers, grandparents and the children themselves miss out on the pride of seeing their moments of glory in their local papers because of the threat posed by a tiny minority of depraved people.

We must, of course, do all we can to guard against the dangers posed by the Internet, whether it be drug-dealing, fraud or pornography.

But we must also strive to retain a sense of balance.