TWO of Bolton's MPs stepped into the YouTube website debate after it emerged that a video of a disabled man being bullied by a gang of youths could still be viewed online.

Gareth Parkes, who has learning difficulties, was goaded into cycling up a ramp on a field near his home.

But he fell off and broke two fingers - much to the delight of the watching gang, who filmed the stunt on a mobile phone and posted it on the website.

Mr Parkes' parents were under the impression the video had been removed by administrators of the site, but a simple search by The Bolton News yesterday revealed it to be readily available. Now Mr and Mrs Parkes have called for tougher regulations to be imposed.

Mrs Parkes said: "There should be tougher controls. The video of Gareth should never have been put up there."

YouTube is a website that allows people to upload video clips directly from their mobile phones. Last year The Bolton News revealed that the site was carrying pictures of youths throwing a bike on to railway lines in Westhoughton.

Bolton MPs Brian Iddon and David Crausby yesterday called for tougher regulation of the site. Dr Iddon, the MP for Bolton South-east, said: "I think that if people's pictures are going to be used on a website, their permission should be sought beforehand.

"The problem is how to regulate a system like that and there is no easy solution. I do think, however, that the time is coming when issues like this will have to be discussed in Parliament."

Mr Crausby, who represents Bolton North-east, said: "I absolutely support the call of Mr Parkes' parents. The people who post clips of this nature should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

"The same sort of restrictions should be placed on the internet as exist in other forms of media. The problem, of course, is how to do it."

A spokesman for YouTube said: "Until yesterday, we were under the impression the video had been removed."

He said if anyone thought certain contents violated his or her privacy, they could file a complaint through the company's help centre.

Once a complaint had been made, a review team would examine the clip and make a decision about its suitability.

"If the content breaks our terms then we remove it," the spokesman added.