AN American mother will next week begin her battle for the introduction of legislation outlawing sexually explicit messages which target children on the Internet.

Deborah Boehle's crusade began last summer when she suddenly found her home besieged by telephone calls from adult men asking for her nine-year-old daughter.

Her husband searched newsgroups on the Internet and found suggestive messages which contained the youngster's name along with their telephone number.

They believe an angry neighbour is responsible.