Channel 4 sorry for Adelaide 'slur'

The documentary was about Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio

Channel 4 has issued an apology to the Australian city of Adelaide after a documentary mistakenly described it as "the murder capital of the world".

An Adelaide MP is now demanding that the channel give it free advertising to tell viewers that it is a safe destination.

Independent MP Nick Xenophon described the murder claim, made in a Cutting Edge documentary, as "outrageous" and "a slur".

Adelaide: Has been described as the murder capital of Australia

"I would now like to see free advertising to tell all of Britain what a safe tourist destination we are," he told National Radio News in Sydney.

A correspondent on a Channel 4 documentary about the disappearance of UK backpacker Peter Falconio made the remark about the city being the murder capital of the world during an interview.

The interview was not included in the final programme - but the line was still used in a voice-over.

It was a "regrettable lapse", Channel 4's head of documentaries Peter Dale wrote in a letter of apology to two Australian opposition MPs.

"It is clear the producers failed to double-check this fact," he saud.

He added: "With the benefit of hindsight, it is now clear that the correspondent intended to refer to Adelaide as the murder capital of Australia, rather than the world, which I understand, is well documented."

'Serious assault'

He said he offered sincere apologies on behalf of Channel 4, describing it as "a regrettable lapse in the consistently high journalistic and editorial standards which we demand from our producers".

The documentary also claimed that "Australia is easily the most dangerous country for serious assault".

It was screened in July and told the story of how Mr Falconio went missing after he and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees were travelling on a deserted highway in July 2001.