Horror-scene shock to X Factor viewers

A FILM trailer featuring piles of body bags and corpses coming back to life was shown during an online screening of the X Factor final, breaching broadcasting guidelines.

One father whose young children saw the clip complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) because they were so scared.

The Paramount Channel publicity for horror film Carriers, which is about a virus outbreak and is rated 15, was shown when viewers accessed the X Factor final on ITV Player online.

The broadcaster insisted that it took its social responsibilities "extremely seriously". However, the ASA found that the trailer breached rules governing responsible advertising and fear and distress. It said: "We considered that younger children were likely to be frightened by some scenes in the ad, and in particular the scene in which the dead decaying body appeared to come back to life."