The new Fusion X1 device has been co-designed by parents as part of the Better Phone Project collaboration with HMD (Human Mobile Devices) in a bid to stop youngsters being subjected to upsetting content online.

HMD's chief marketing officer Lars Silberbauer said: “It’s not a silver bullet but it’s a start to hopefully give people an option where they can pick something different."

senior vice-president James Robinson added: "It’s not an application that sits on top of the device that the kids can find a workaround for. We’re baking it into the operating system. It’s not an application that can be removed or uninstalled or anything like that."

The phone - which features an Android operating system - is aimed at kids aged between nine and 11 and will feature controls to restrict messaging and phone calls to pre-approved numbers, regulate the downloading of social media apps and special software which will stop harmful content reaching the user.

It will also feature GPS tracking capabilities and so-called "safety zones" which will alert parents when their child leaves specified areas such as the homes of friends or members of their family.

The Fusion X1 is slated for release in May and will be priced between £200 and £250 with the parental controls being added via a subscription service which will cost around £4 a month.