Scotland's second largest teaching union has urged local authorities to issue clear instructions banning the use of camera phones in schools.

It is concerned that paedophiles could abuse photos of children taken on them, and that they could help pupils cheat in exams.

David Eaglesham, general secretary at the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), said: "Enough recent high profile cases have shown just how great this risk is.

"Allowing the use of mobile phone cameras in schools would greatly increase the risk of either deliberate or accidental use of images of children for inappropriate purposes."

The SSTA stated that camera phones could allow photographs to be sent to a wide range of "malevolent users" and that it should not be tolerated. It added that there was also the potential for cheating during exams.

"Mobile phone cameras create huge problems for confidentiality of documents such as examination papers, thus giving rise to concern about cheating or inappropriate use of personal data," said Eaglesham.

He insisted that a ban would be a feasible step and believes that some schools may already have bans in place.