ITV axes 'insensitive' docu-drama

The Marchioness was packed with young party-goers

ITV has dropped a docu-drama about the 1989 Marchioness pleasure boat disaster after one bereaved relative described it as "distressing and insensitive".

The £2m film, which has already been made, portrays the events that led to 51 people losing their lives.

But ITV drama consultant Nick Elliott said the writing and production were not "quite good enough".

Margaret Lockwood Croft, whose son died, earlier said it "sensationalises and misrepresents" what happened.

The tragedy occurred when the pleasure boat, packed with young party-goers, collided with a dredger on the Thames in London.

If we put this film out we would be attacked because I don't think it is quite good enough Nick Elliott ITV

"If we are broadcasting a programme about a massive issue we have to be able to say we stand by this film in every respect," Mr Elliott said.

"I have always had certain problems with the writing and production of this film and we do not feel that these creative issues have been resolved.

"If we put this film out we would be attacked because I don't think it is quite good enough. It is costing us £2m not to broadcast it."

Mrs Lockwood Croft recently told the Daily Telegraph that most families and survivors were not consulted while the film was being made.

But Eileen Dallaglio, whose daughter died in the accident, told the paper it was "crucial" that the film was broadcast, describing it as "an excellent adaptation of the full horror of what happened".