THE funeral takes place today of 17-year-old Darlington">Ashleigh Hall, the North- East student killed after she met a man via the internet.

As Ashleigh’s family have made clear, it is a tragedy which must serve as a warning to others about the terrifying dangers that lurk on the worldwide web.

And yesterday, on the eve of her funeral, councillors in Ashleigh’s home town of Darlington discussed ways to improve internet safety.

The conclusion they reached is a cause for concern. While efforts have undoubtedly been made to promote internet safety in schools and colleges, there are gaps and inconsistencies which need to be addressed.

Members of Darlington Borough Council’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee were told that the national curriculum does not give any particular advice on how internet safety should be taught.

The danger, therefore, is that some schools will do it well, and others will not.

In supporting calls for greater focus on the way this important issue is taught in schools and colleges, we do not underestimate the role that parents must play in ensuring that the risks are highlighted.

We also appreciate that teachers are already faced with an ever-growing list of subjects which need to be crammed into the national curriculum.

But this is not about adding to the burden on schools. It is about working towards a more effective approach to a problem which is bound to grow.

And if Darlington becomes the exemplar in providing a stronger safety net, Ashleigh Hall will have left a valuable legacy.