SNAPCHAT users are being warned that their private images and videos could be shared online without their permission following reports to a North-East police force.

Cleveland Police revealed it has received four reports of Snapchat pictures being published without the knowledge or permission of the original sender.

The force outlined that those targeted by the misuse of the social media platform are often teenagers who have sent selfies to new romantic contacts or pictures of themselves wearing little clothing to track weight loss.

Some photographs have been shared online without permission after a user has sent a picture to a friend or allowed a person they trust to take a picture, with their accounts then being hacked or the images shared maliciously.

Cybercrime detectives are aware of websites and forums, often created in foreign countries, which are solely dedicated to the sharing of photographs of young men and women without their permission.

PC Will Galloway, a cybercrime officer, said: “When you allow someone to take your photograph of you or share a photograph of you with someone else, you are entrusting an image of yourself to them.

“Their account may not be secure enough to keep photographs safe and they may share the image without your permission.

“People should remember that once something is online, it’s almost impossible to delete all traces of it.

“I would urge internet users to make sure that they have strong passwords to protect accounts and photographs.”