THE famous book Lolita has been shocking people for the last couple of decades. Now it has been made into a new film, and author Nabokov's tale of child sex is being reintroduced to a new generation, with greater emphasis on the sexuality of the teenage girl.

Bolton man Tom Jones has asked trading standards' chief Andrew Fisher not to give the film a licence. He doesn't want it shown locally because he abhors turning child abuse into entertainment.

We agree with Mr Jones' stand, and we applaud his setting up of a nationwide campaign for decency. We need moral campaigners like him to highlight the dangers in all areas of life today, especially in the arts where a specific pornographic message may be peddled. In this case, that child sex is OK.

However, the film has already been passed uncut by the chief censor and granted an 18 certificate. If local people object to its screening by writing to trading standards, the film may not be shown in Bolton.

Censorship in any form is rather worrying, however. The ultimate censorship is for individuals to decide for themselves, and act accordingly.

If the film is allowed in local cinemas, we hope that those who agree with the anti-porn stance will "vote" against it in the most effective way: by boycotting it in their droves, thus making it a financial flop.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.