CANTERBURY and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier lobbied parliament this morning in a bid to overhaul the process for classifying films, DVDs and Video Games.

Mr Brazier was outraged last month to see a controversial Italian film, originally banned in the 1970s, was now available to buy on DVD from most high street stores on an 18 certificate.

The Film, "SS Expansion Camp", shows graphic scenes of women being tortured by Nazi Concentration Camp Guards.

The Private Members Bill, which had its second reading in the Commons this morning, has received cross-party support, including from Maidstone and The Weald MP Ann Widdecombe.

The bill is calling for decisions made by the British Board of Film Classification to be made more accountable to the public, with a firm appeals process introduced alongside.

Mr Brazier already has an ally in John Beyer, from Ashford-based watchdog Mediawatch UK: "The whole way the board operates has for far too long been a sort of secret society activity.

"I think the glare of publicity really should focus in on the work they do and exactly what standards they are approving for public exhibition at our cinemas.

"The way in which the Board has devised its classification guidelines should be subject to some external scrutiny and that is why I believe this bill is of uptmost importance."

Mr Beyer believes standards of censorship have slipped in recent years, with more scenes of graphic violence being introduced at lower ages.

Julian Brazier is due to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Labour MP Keith Vaz in March to discuss his ideas in more detail.