Ms Price has until July to pay the BPI

Emily Price, 14, from Cheltenham, has been accused of file-sharing, opening up her computer for others to share her downloaded music, and vice versa.

Her mother Sylvia, 53, has until the beginning of July to pay the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) or face an additional fine or civil action.

She is one of about 90 people targeted in recent BPI action.

Average fine

Matt Philips, from the BPI, said: "The issue surrounds illegal file-sharing, where people download software from the web allowing them access to a network and putting people in touch with one another.

"They then swap files across the net. By opening their computers up, they are distributing music without permission."

Sylvia Price said: "Everybody at Emily's school does the same and everyone I know downloads it.

"They are all shocked and clearing their computers."

The BPI says it is targeting the 90 worst file-sharing offenders, of whom 26 people have already paid an average fine of �2,600.

Anyone can contest their case in a civil action or settle the individual fine, of which the maximum in this swoop has been �4,500.