A full review of the law on murder has been demanded by government advisers.

The Law Commission, the government's law reform adviser, said on Friday that a review is necessary because of the "breadth and depth of discontent" with the present rules.

A spokesman said: "A logical system would identify the most serious forms of killing and call them murder, but it might also attempt to identify other forms and grade them for sentencing.

"The information we have had from consultees indicates widespread dissatisfaction with the law from judges downwards, who feel their work is being made difficult by the current law."