Sex shop ad banned

An advertisement for sex shop chain Ann Summers which punned on a nursery rhyme has been banned for being likely to 'harm children', it emerged today.

The poster, which was advertising the opening of a new store in Banbury, Oxfordshire, showed a woman in a g-string and bra astride a model horse and was accompanied by the caption: "Ride A Cock Hoarse".

The 25ft high poster was driven around Banbury on the back of an advertisement van for a weekend in February.

The ban was handed down by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) last week after complaints from two local residents, who said the advertisement was offensive and likely to harm children.

The ASA agreed, despite Ann Summers arguing that the poster was intended to be tongue-in-cheek and that children would not understand the wordplay in the strapline.

The line refers to a favourite nursery rhyme which starts: "Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross/To see a fine lady upon a white horse."