Channel 4 show is 'abusive', says Cornwall safeguarding board

Boys and Girls Alone demeans and "to some extent demonises" the children involved, some of whom are likely to suffer from long-term consequences as a result, the letter said. In the programme, 20 primary school children are left without adult supervision for two weeks.

Writing on behalf of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board, Ruby Parry, assistant director of children, young people and families of Cornwall's Children's Services Authority, said: "While only one programme has so far been broadcast, some of the children were greatly distressed and this in our view is abusive.

"This distress has now been publicly broadcast to all of these children's peers, and is therefore likely to have long-term consequences for some of them."

The letter suggests the programme-makers may have breached the Performance Licensing Legislation (PLL), and added the board was considering legal options.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said the broadcaster had fully complied with all the appropriate child safety legislation, adding the PLL did not apply to factual programmes.

Andrew Mackenzie, Channel 4's head of factual entertainment, said: "All the children were carefully chosen and screened by appropriately qualified experts, including a clinical psychologist, to make sure they could cope well with the experience of being in the series.

"The children and their parents also had access to expert advice and support at all stages of production and after broadcast. The children lived in a protected environment with around-the-clock security during production."