PARENTS are being warned about an internet game called 'Momo' which poses a dangerous risk to children.

York High School has used its Facebook page to warn parents and carers of the game which involves a horror character appearing on screens called Momo, which targets young people via Whatsapp and encourages them to kill themselves or bad things will happen to their friends and families.

"This is something that all parents should be alert to," said York High School's post.

Children are seeing this challenge on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Whatsapp and on the game Minecraft.

It involves the appearance of a horror character on the screen which asks them to accept the challenge, saying it will come and 'get them' during the night if they refuse. 

"If they do accept the challenge it encourages self harm and eventually suicide", said the school's post.

Last year, the game, which has been linked to the death of a 12-year-old girl in Argentina, had not made its way to the UK but there have been recent media reports of it in the UK.