Cineworld 'sorry' as 15-rated trailer upsets children

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Page last updated at 16:21 GMT, Tuesday, 21 February 2012

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By Steven McIntosh
Newsbeat reporter Puss swinging on a rope

Puss In Boots topped the UK box office chart when it was released in November

Cineworld have apologised after a 15-rated trailer was shown before a U-rated film in one of their cinemas.

Many children were said to be in tears after an advert for horror film The Devil Inside was screened before a showing of Puss In Boots.

A trailer for 12A film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was also shown at the cinema in Wandsworth.

A spokesperson for Cineworld said the incident was down to "genuine human error".

"We apologise sincerely to the families in the screen at the time," they added.

The British Board Of Film Classification (BBFC) told Newsbeat a cinema would be in breach of its licence if it showed a trailer which wasn't suitable for the audience of the film.

In a statement the BBFC said: "Cinemas require a licence from the local authority in which they operate.

"The licence must include a condition requiring the admission of children under 18 to any work (including trailers), to be restricted in accordance with the recommendations of the BBFC or the licensing authority.

"It is a matter for the local authority to enforce the conditions of the licence."

Wandsworth Council has launched an investigation after receiving a complaint.

Cineworld said: "All customers who were affected by the incident were offered complimentary tickets.

"We take matters such as this very seriously and are currently assessing the process to see how the procedure can be improved to ensure this doesn't happen again."