The National Parents' Council is warning against the potential dangers of a new mobile phone app.

Snapchat allows a person to send someone else a picture or video which will disappear without a trace after a few seconds.

The Council says it opens the floodgates to cyber-bullying and even paedophilia. 

It has already become hugely popular and is now used more than 50 million times a day.

Allows users to remove material

It is marketing itself as a real-time picture chatting application.

The programme allows the user control how long the other person can see the message with a maximum of 10 seconds.

It is rated as being for those aged 12 and up.

But spokesperson with the National Parents' Council Post Primary Jackie O'Callaghan says parents need to be aware of the dangers involved.

She says mobile phone operators need to make parents aware of these potential dangers.