Kent’s MPs are backing calls to introduce greater regulation of video on the web to stop children accessing the net’s dark side.

One in six schoolchildren sees ‘nasty, worrying or frightening’ content on the web according to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

A report states there are no current regulations forbidding websites such as YouTube from publishing harmful content, including hard porn, rape, bullying and fistfights.

In one instance a video of gang rape put up on YouTube was viewed 600 times before it was removed.

The committee is demanding greater control, including a new self-regulation body to clean up the industry. These calls are backed by some of Kent’s MPs.

Jonathan Shaw, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said: "The availability of such videos on the internet is worrying.

"I'm concerned that acts of violence and instances of happy-slapping recorded on mobile phones are transferred to the web for wider consumption.

"I support a review into the risk to children of exposure to harmful or inappropriate content in video games and online.

"We need measures to help prevent children from being exposed to such material and help parents understand and manage the risks of access to inappropriate content."

Ashford’s MP Damian Green agrees. He said:"I think it would be good for the website themselves to check what they are putting out first of all.

"Self-regulation is a good way and is better than the Government getting involved as it would be more effective and more flexible.

"I also think that there should be minimum standards that all social networking sites and websites like YouTube should keep to help parents feel more assured."

The report - which can be read in full at www.publications.parliament.uk states that the committee is concerned that user-generated video content on sites such as YouTube does not carry any age classification, nor is there a watershed before which it cannot be viewed.

But it also states that the committee welcomed efforts by YouTube to identify material only suitable for adults, such as that containing foul language, and to develop potential controls to prevent children from accessing it.

Dr Zoe Hilton, from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said that the report supported its call for more vigilance from everyone.

Dr Hilton said: "Violent material must be removed from websites as soon as the alarm is raised but companies responsible for running them are unfortunately failing to do this.

"There may well be a deluge of video clips and films pouring into sites but they have to be vetted, no matter how difficult that may be. Children can easily stumble across these things and are often horrified by what they see.

"This report strengthens our call for more vigilance from everyone, including parents who should always talk to their children and help them stay safe when they are online."