Category: Children's
Date: 29.03.2006
Printable version
Blue Peter will announce on today's programme that it plans to suspend free access for badge holders to its list of visitor attractions throughout the UK, with immediate effect.
The temporary move follows the recently reported sales of badges on internet auction site eBay.
The system, which allows Blue Peter badge holders free access to more than 200 UK attractions, will be suspended until Blue Peter is able to put a secure system in place to stop people who have purchased badges - rather than earning them - using the badges to gain free entry to attractions.
The programme is currently looking at a number of options for this.
Blue Peter Editor Richard Marson said: "This is a sad but necessary short-term step to safeguard the future of the Blue Peter badge scheme and to protect children who have earnt their badges and who are feeling very let down by this cynical trade.
"We have a responsibility both to them and to the partners on our visitor list.
"We think Blue Peter viewers will agree that this is the best way forward to making the whole system less open to abuse.
"We are doing our best to get the system back up and running as soon as possible, and will be working closely with all our partners on the list in the meantime."
Today's Blue Peter is on BBC ONE at 5.00pm.
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