People removed from Twitter are to be permanently suspended from creating new accounts.

The social media site has announced changes to improve safety online.

Last week, it introduced improvements for reporting abusive tweets - and it has now announced three further changes.

As well as stopping the creation of new abusive accounts, it is also bringing forward safer search results and collapsing potentially abusive or low-quality tweets.

In a statement, the NYSE-listed company says: "We're taking steps to identify people who have been permanently suspended and stop them from creating new accounts.

"This focuses more effectively on some of the most prevalent and damaging forms of behaviour, particularly accounts that are created only to abuse and harass others."

On safer search results, it says: "We're also working on 'safe search' which removes tweets that contain potentially sensitive content and tweets from blocked and muted accounts from search results.

"While this type of content will be discoverable if you want to find it, it won't clutter search results any longer".

While it also says potentially abusive and low-quality replies will be identified "so the most relevant conversations are brought forward".

But all replies will still be accessible to those who seek them out. The website says the change is being rolled out "in the coming weeks."