Skins 'orgy' poster is banned

Skins was first shown on E4 and follows a group of teenagers in Bristol

A poster promoting Channel 4's teen drama Skins has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

It features two of the stars, April Pearson (Michelle) and Mike Bailey (Sid), surrounded by couples apparently taking part in an orgy.

The ASA said the image "could cause serious or widespread offence" and was inappropriate for poster sites that could be seen by children.

It ordered Channel 4 to stop using the poster after receiving 42 complaints.

But the ASA rejected a complaint about a second poster, showing the character Tony (Nicholas Hoult) lying submerged in a bath with his eyes open.

It also dismissed further complaints that the "orgy" poster condoned underage sex and that the images would encourage children to copy the behaviour.

Channel 4 said it did not mean to cause offence and the second series of Skins clearly showed the "consequences of hedonistic and irresponsible behaviour".