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Forget the rise of silver surfers, high-tech toddlers are among the fastest growing groups who are getting online.

Research has discovered that children as young as three are online by the time they start nursery school, thanks to child-friendly devices like tablets and smartphones.

But it has also led to growing cyber safety fears among parents with more than half (53 per cent) admitting they do not know how to teach their youngsters about internet security.

Industry body Internet Matters surveyed 2,000 parents with children aged five to 11. It found high-tech toddlers are online by the time they start nursery school because of child-friendly devices such as tablets and phones

The study by online safety campaigners Internet Matters found most parents rely on schools to teach kids how to avoid potential cyber dangers.

But while UK primary schools now have coding and other computer subjects on the curriculum, it is the parents who need teaching more than the pupils, said the report.

And today's children are already online before they start school - with the average age decreasing.

One in ten parents admit to being scared by how fast their children were leaving them behind when it came to technology.

The industry body, which provides schools with the resources to deal with child safety online, surveyed 2,000 parents with children aged five to 11.

Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters said: 'It is fantastic to see generations of children grow up knowing how to use technology because it will make them equipped for the modern world when they are older.

Only one in three parents feel confident enough about setting appropriate security measures on internet-enabled devices in the home. And one in seven actually rely on their children to tell them about technology rather than the other way round

'But with this knowledge comes greater fears over what risks children could be exposed to we want to help parents deal with this properly and safely.

'Schools are vital in the role they play both in educating children, but also in helping parents stay informed.'

Only one in three parents feel confident enough about setting appropriate security measures on internet-enabled devices in the home.

And one in seven actually rely on their children to tell them about technology rather than the other way round.

Internet Matters is a not-for-profit body made up of the UK's four major broadband providers, BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.