A camera fitted into a room at Bolton School Nursery, Greater Manchester, relays pictures which can only be accessed by parents issued with individual passwords.

The nursery came up with the idea when it decided to have a Website designed.

It means mothers and fathers can see how their children are getting on from anywhere in the world.

Reassurance

The camera has been installed in the nursery's baby room, and if the scheme is a success, other cameras will be fitted into the nursery's other rooms.

Nursery manager Julie Fletcher said: "Many of our parents go abroad for meetings or work long hours but now they can keep up to date and be reassured about their child all day.

"When you are talking about babies, they change daily if not hourly and mums and dads can watch their progress at any time.

"If they see their children crying they can look later and be reassured that they have settled down again."

Secure password

The system was devised by Tony Tickle, Managing Director of the Tickle Group, which designs Websites.

He said the Webcam helped parents feel they were really taking part in their children's day.

"It's an extension of the nursery's services for parents. The nursery has a lot of young professionals as parents who are travelling all over the world.

"If they take their laptop with them, they can see their children even if they're at a conference in Brazil.