CHILDREN who had to travel with their parents to see the film Spider-Man in Bexleyheath after Bexley Council changed the film's classification, will now be able to see similar films at their own cinemas.

Hot on the heels of the council's licensing panel's decision to downgrade the film's classification from a 12 to PG, the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) announced a new 12A film classification.

When the council changed Spider-Man's classification, it specified children under 12 would have to be accompanied by an adult and publicity for the film in Bexleyheath would have to specify it contained "strong fantasy violence".

When the BBFC announced the new category last week it too said parents should make the decision for children aged under 12, that under-12s should be accompanied by an adult and warnings about possible bad language, violence and sexual references should be well advertised.

The BBFC carried out a pilot scheme in Norwich and did a national survey before making the change.

Bexley councillor Sylvia Malt, who chaired the licensing panel which changed Spider-Man's classification, said: "It is nice to know we are in tune with the public and that we made the right decision."