Freedom of the press allows me to write this column, and allows thousands of other journalists around this country to share their views and write their news reports generally.

Ever since newspapers first began appearing in significant numbers in the 1800s, reporters, and indeed the public, in the form of letters, have been able to largely state their opinions.

However, in recent months I have seen this freedom spiralling out of control in certain areas.

As newspapers have put more content on websites, online forums for readers to comment have been hi-jacked by hateful, divisive and, I would even say, dangerous individuals.

The Burnley Express website is very tightly monitored and any offensive reader comments are removed immediately.

Sadly, that is not the case with all newspapers, national and local.
One paper's website daily carries swear words, offensive comments about individuals and other inflammatory language.

Readers regularly indulge in online arguments and on one occasion I even read of a potential fight being organised.

Obviously, a lot of this is posturing and nothing will ever come of it, but the fact remains these comments can lead to lives being ruined.

It may sound hypocritical for a reporter to be complaining about what people should be allowed to say, but we are governed by strict laws and we always try to be as accurate as possible.

The kind of morons who post offensive online comments seem to gain a perverse enjoyment from writing their poison under an anonymous cloak. As I said earlier, we are lucky to live in a free country and say what we think but some of the criticism in reader comments is completely nonsensical and cruel.

For example, a well-known local Olympian was simply described as "a t****r". I have also seen people's religions criticised and backgrounds questioned.

There are a lot of problems in society and it is good that people feel strongly enough to comment; a lot of people do put worthwhile views on forums.

I just hope that people think a little more carefully about what they write in future, and what impact their words have. The pen is mightier than the sword.