Manufacturers will have to follow stricter rules if they want to sell "smart" gadgets in the UK after a new law came into effect.

It is designed to ensure there is better security around devices such as baby monitors, televisions and speakers that are linked to the internet.

These gadgets can pose a risk because cyber-criminals use them to hack into home networks and steal private data.

The government said the new law should give consumers "peace of mind".

Until now, manufacturers were expected to follow security guidelines, but the new law makes three new requirements:

that password procedures are more secure, including ensuring any set by the manufacturer are not left blank or using easy-to-guess choices like "12345" or "admin"

• that there is clarity around how to report "bugs" or security problems that arise
• that manufacturers and retailers inform customers how long they will receive support, including software updates, for the device they are buying

The government said the laws were a "world first" that would protect UK consumers and businesses and boost the country's resilience against cybercrime.

The Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said more than half of UK households now had a smart TV and more than half had a voice assistant such as Alexa. It said homes contained an average of nine connected devices.

As well as basic broadband routers, that can include toys that are linked to the web, or home appliances such as radiators, ovens and fridges that can be controlled remotely.

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But do video doorbells really improve your home security and help catch criminals?

"Like all CCTV, we use video doorbell footage as evidence to help solve crime," says a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police.

Mass surveillance' fears over law change plans

It warns that citizens' privacy, security and safety could be put at risk.

The statement has been signed by more than a dozen bodies and individuals focused on the tech industry and human rights.

It is not the first criticism of the government's plans to amend the law, which are due to be debated again in parliament on Monday.

In January, Apple told the BBC ministers were seeking to pre-approve new security features introduced by tech firms - something it said amounted to "unprecedented overreach".

The Home Office said then it was seeking to "protect the country from child sexual abusers and terrorists."