Twitter has disabled several private accounts after they were revealed to hold indecent images of child abuse.

According to National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a Children charity group, the graphic pictures were unmasked by hacking groups, which are alleged to have accessed private accounts to disseminate their indecent content.

An NSPCC spokesman said apparently these were pretty disturbing images of child abuse.

"We understand the authorities in the US are now looking at the accounts," spokesman said.

The charity group has also said that it has received several reports related to at least half a dozen Twitter accounts which were later shut down.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) spokesman said Twitter had disabled the accounts, and it would be reporting the find to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

"NCMEC will forward the account details to law enforcement in the countries where the individual concerned is," spokesman said.

Twitter responded by saying: "We do not tolerate child pornography on Twitter. When we are made aware of such images they will be removed from the site without further notice."