A regional daily has launched a campaign to help youngsters stay safe online – on the same day its website was relaunched.

The Leicester Mercury has joined forces with Leicestershire Police and Leicester-based charity Warning Zone for the Safe Online drive, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers children face on the internet and social media.

The project aims to provide tips for parents and help describe in simple language how and where online predators are operating, raise £250,000 for the vehicle Warning Zone needs to take its e-safety message out to Leicestershire’s schools.

The Mercury has also pledged to highlight the work of the authorities fighting the online threat and “exposing those that would do our children harm”.

A piece by editor George Oliver reads: “Our aim is for the campaign to be an ongoing mix of practical information and advice for children and families from the authorities, relevant news on related subjects, court coverage of associated cases, and reporting of WZ fund-raising.

“And it’s not the first time the Mercury has addressed similar issues – web safety was also the focus of a 2004 campaign in the paper.”

The campaign was launched on Wednesday day, the same day the Mercury’s website was upgraded to bring it into line with those of fellow Trinity Mirror dailies.

It now features faster loading pages, bigger pictures and image galleries, as well as a better video player.

The Nottingham Post’s website was also revamped to include the same features last week.