Fortnite, the online game craze, is putting children at risk from online paedophiles, the National Crime Agency has warned yesterday.

The law enforcement agency says text chats between players over the internet cannot be turned off, meaning that mums and dads are unaware their children are chatting to strangers online.

The game, which features up to 100 players battling to be the last person alive in a player vs player combat, is proving hugely popular in the UK, with many young people said to be disrupting school lessons because they are so addicted.

Now the NCA has intervened to make adults aware of the dangers, stating that Fortnite is immensely popular with children and teenagers across the country. It features text chat which cannot be turned off, so it's important that parents and teachers understand that risks broader risks associated with the game and enable safe playing.

Last month, a mother from Merseyside told how she intervened when her 12-year-old son was offered £50 to perform “sex acts” while playing the game by a man grooming him online.