Children should not be given their first mobile phone until they are at least 11 years old according to an on-line poll by United Kingdom Merseyside charity Parentline Plus, the GSMA Environment Insider reports this week.

The majority of 427 parents who responded to the organisation's national survey believe their youngsters should wait until they were aged between 11 and 13 before getting their first mobile, while 27 per cent felt they should be 14 or over.

Only 26 per cent of those questioned were happy to allow their child to have a mobile under the age of 10.

Claire Andre, area manager for Parentline Plus, says parents often give into pester power to buy their child a mobile phone from an early age, with mobile phones specially designed for four-year-olds even being on sale.

She said: "Children today are really into gadgets - whether it be the latest all-singing, all-dancing mobile phone or a games console - and mums and dads are bound to get pestered about buying their child his or her first mobile phone at some point.

"It's important to resist pester power but to make a considered decision, and if you do feel your child is ready to have a mobile, to set some ground rules to make sure you and your child get the most out of it."

The national charity offers parent-to-parent support on the phone, by e-mail, through its website and face to face from 14 local centres around the country.

Its website www.parentlineplus.org.uk  has a wealth of information for parents with children of all ages and message boards for parents to share experiences and support each other.

It also features a quick guide for parents coming under pressure to buy a mobile phone for their child and suggests saying no. If you have decided you won't get your child if they are too young or you cannot afford one.