A DISTURBING ‘game’ that allegedly goads children to harm themselves is said to have spread to Oxfordshire - but charities have advised that it is a hoax.

Parents have been warned to be aware of the ‘Momo challenge’, featuring a scary doll-like figure that appears on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and popular games Roblox and Fortnite.

National reports have described the game as encouraging players or viewers to add a contact on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.

It is said to send graphic images and messages before setting gradually more sinister tasks, finally ending by challenging them to take their own life.

But reports by the BBC today suggest the MOMO challenge is a hoax, and that no one has actually received any messages.

The Guardian has reported that charities including the Safer Internet Centre have described it as 'fake news'. 

Today, a Government minister has said there is no confirmed evidence the so-called Momo challenge is posing a threat to British children.

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom pointed to children's charities saying reports of a ghoulish figure being connected to messages urging self-harm and suicide is a hoax.

Mrs Leadsom said the "appalling" challenge was "one the Government is extremely concerned about" and new laws were being drawn up to force internet companies to act to protect vulnerable users, including children.

However, the Commons Leader also flagged up how charities were telling her there was "no confirmed evidence" Momo had led any children in the UK to self-harm.

ALSO READ: Momo Challenge explained 

It was originally reported the game was reported first in Colombia, Australia, Mexico and linked to at least two deaths, and earlier this week a concerned mum from Bolton took to social media to warn other parents about the game, after a pupil at her child's school said 'Momo was going to go into their room at night and kill them.'

Now a mother has posted on the Bicester Community Chat private Facebook group, warning that Momo was now 'closer to home'.

Ana Catarina Rodrigues wrote: "As I was scrolling Facebook another post popped up with that same 'Momo face' I've been seeing everywhere recently.

"My six-year-old daughter was sitting next to me, and she said 'you play the happy face too?'

"Apparently this is on Roblox or was at some point, they have to run up to the roof so the 'happy face' doesn't kill them.

"When I asked how she knew about this 'happy face', she said 'my friends at school told me.'

"I don't mean to ring any alarm bells, but just thought if this is so close to home now that I would share this and at least raise some awareness."

Other critics have said that Momo is nothing more than a 'moral panic' fuelled by people on social media and in the national press.

ALSO READ: Children's safety charity gives advice to parents on Momo challenge

The mother told the Oxford Mail she had also not found any evidence of Momo actually existing in any of her daughter's games, and that when she asked her to point out where she saw it, she said she could not find it.

She added: "I've looked into it and can't find any resources or evidence of the actual Youtube videos people and parents have been claiming Momo is in."

Nevertheless, police in Northern Ireland and several schools around the country have urged parents to be aware.

Momo is said to manifest as a brown-haired young woman, with bulging eyes and creepy bird-like legs.

The image was originally created by Japanese artist Midori Hiyashi for the Link Factory, which has no connection to the 'game.'