Mobiles can tell porkies!

It is a common dilemma: you're supposed to be on the way home, whereas in fact you're in the pub - but how do you call your loved one without being found out?

A Romanian software company claims it has the answer.

Simeda has developed software that can be loaded onto a mobile phone to disguise your location. Before phoning, you select a sound that is looped over the call as background noise.

Users can choose from birdsong, thunderstorms, or even pretend they are at the circus. It is also possible to record your own sounds.

The software can be downloaded to new smart phones and will play your background sound again if the person calls you back.

Liviu Tofan, one author of the software, said its morality could be questioned but it was just a bit of fun, adding: "We hope it will come in handy for lots of people."