A SCOTTISH council yesterday became the first to agree to ban the use of mobile phone cameras in schools.

West Lothian Council is responding to fears that images transmitted from the playground or classroom could be exploited by paedophiles.

According to one teaching union, paedophiles might resort to bribing pupils to send pictures that could be manipulated to create pornography.

The council's children services and lifelong learning committee ruled that pupils will still be able to carry their phones switched off in their pockets or bags, but will not be allowed to take any pictures while on school property.

A council spokesman said: ''We think this is common sense. Like any other policy it will rely on the goodwill of parents and pupils themselves. Pupils themselves are saying they appreciate the fact that people will not be able to take pictures of them at school. It is a matter of respecting others.''

Carol Bartholomew, convener of the committee, said: ''The safety, security and well-being of the children in our schools is one of the reasons for not allowing mobile phone cameras to be used in schools.

''The other is about respecting the rights of children and their parents to know when pictures are being taken and how they are being used.''

Judith Gillespie, development manager of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, described the move as ''synthetic hysteria''.

She said: ''Mobile phones should be banned from schools per se. There is no reason to get worked up about any particular brand such as camera phones.''

However, the decision was welcomed by the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, whose general secretary, David Eaglesham, said: ''I think Judith takes a very short-sighted view of what is happening in education. It is going to be a growing problem.

''There is a difference between being able to talk or send a text message from school, and being able to send an image - perhaps round the world - instantly. The people who supply these phones have said there is a risk. Other people should be aware.''