Boycott on too sexy clothes

A boycott of shops which encourage young girls to wear sexy clothes was demanded today, according to ES. Nursing groups and politicians called on consumers to hit back at outlets marketing adult-style underwear, T-shirts with inappropriate slogans and high heeled shoes to young girls. They accused High Street stores of promoting "creeping sexualisation" of children as young as four by peddling inappropriate clothes. But retailers insist they are simply meeting a demand and say it is up to parents to decide what their children wear.

The role of High Street stores in encouraging young girls to experiment with sex was highlighted at a debate on teenage pregnancy. Several household name stores, including Asda, BHS and Next, have been condemned for selling inappropriate clothes to children in the past. Examples include black lace lingerie to girls as young as nine' bikini pants embroidered with hearts and the slogan "Little Miss Naughty" for seven-year olds, and a T-shirt bearing for six-year-olds the slogan "so many boys, so little time".

Asda and BHS both withdrew items after a public outcry, but teenage pregnancy campaigners fear the sale of such items is rapidly becoming commonplace. More than 8,000 girls a year under the age of 16 become pregnant in England and Wales . A quarter of them are under 14.