Campaigning churchgoers are taking a stand against sex and violence on TV.

The worshippers from Burley-in-Wharfedale Methodist Church are following in the footsteps of veteran broadcasting standards campaigner Mary Whitehouse and calling on their national leaders to speak out against what they see as declining media standards.

As part of their campaign the Methodists' Church and Society Team has provided scores of villagers with a TV companion, designed to encourage them to make their views known if they are offended by what they see, or feel a programme is worthy of praise.

Three hundred cards have been distributed to villagers with the church's magazine. Produced by the national Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) organisation, they are designed to sit on top of a television and contain details of how to contact broadcasters and broadcasting regulators.

Viv Morrissey, a preacher on the Methodists' Otley and Aireborough Circuit and member of the Church and Society Team, said: "I think there's a lot of disquiet about the amount of violence and sexual activity depicted on TV before or around the time of the 9pm watershed.

"We've decided that instead of just grumbling about it to friends it's time people stood up and made their views known to the TV companies and regulators.

"We're trying to promote social action and want to encourage people to challenge things they find offensive in the media.

"It's no good just deploring things like crime and other problems in society - we've got to look at some of the things that contribute to those problems and actively tackle them.''

Group secretary Christine Price said: "Some programmes which come out before the 9pm watershed aren't suitable for family viewing. There's a lack of respect for family values.

"For example, in my view there is some gratuitous gore in Casualty. It's over the top in terms of explosions and shootings.''

She said they were also concerned by some adverts, such as one for a car which features a woman undressing, but added that it was also important for viewers to highlight praiseworthy programmes or adverts.

A CARE spokesman said almost 100,000 of the cards had been distributed, adding: "The Burley initiative is excellent. It's great to see people looking outside their church to try and shape the world and society around them. We're great believers in praising broadcasters as well as criticising them and this gives people a tool to do both.''

Mary Whitehouse, who founded the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association in 1965, said: "There's a lot of concern about standards on TV and I think this is a marvellous initiative.''

NVLA director John Beyer added: "It's an absolutely splendid initiative and encouraging active participation from viewers through things like this is something we've always promoted."

A spokesman for the BBC hospital drama said: "Casualty has a solid reputation for dealing with difficult issues in a sensitive and responsible way. The medical subject matter of the drama is clear and we're careful not to betray the trust viewers have developed for the series over 14 years.''

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