She may not be sporting a cape, but this Luton mum is on a crusade against the officials who gave the new Batman film a 12A rating.

Silvia Theobald, of Bushmead Road, says the "violent and extremely disturbing scenes" in the latest Batman instalment, The Dark Knight, are too much for young children.

Not only is she refusing to let her 10-year-old son see the film, she has also written to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) demanding to know how and why The Dark Knight was given its 12A certificate.

A short while into the film, which has taken more than £34 million at the UK box office, The Joker dispenses with one of his enemies by putting a pencil through their eyeball, and on several occasions he threatens his victims with knives for prolonged periods.

But the 12A rating means any child under the age of 12 can go to see the film, as long as they are with a responsible adult.

Silvia said: "I have seen the film and for children of such a young age, it is much too violent. A 15 rating would be best for it.

"I don't have anything against the film itself, but I think the BBFC should be more strict."

BBFC spokeswoman Sue Clark said more than six millon people had seen the film, and only about 200 had complained to the board.

She said: "Watching a film is a subjective experience - there are always people who don't agree with the classification we've given."

For more information on The Dark Knight, click here.

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