Channel 4 has come under fire over its decision to broadcast a series proposing that the age of consent be lowered to 14.

The "Adult at 14" season will include a documentary exploring the attitudes of 14-year-old youngsters towards pornography.

The broadcaster will also screen a programme in which 10 boys and girls will be left in a house unsupervised for five days and nights.

"This is not like Big Brother where they are left completely alone, there will be cameramen in the house with them,'' said a spokeswoman for the channel.

"Although the season focuses on the subject of teenage sexuality, sex inside the house will be banned.

"There will be rules in place about what they can and can't do. They will be under-age so they will definitely not be allowed to have sex."

But MPs have argued that the specially commissioned season - which comes amid record numbers of sexually transmitted diseases amongst young adults - is inappropriate.

"I think that while society is pressing too far in losing childhood innocence, I fully recognise that some teenagers are sexually active, but there's no reason to encourage it," said Julie Kirkbride, Conservative MP for Bromsgrove and vice chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on childcare.

Labour MP for Cunninghame South Brian Donahoe said he didn't "think it's right".

However Matthew Green, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for young people, argued that a case could be made for a reduction in the age of consent.

"I think society has changed from when 16 was adopted as the age of consent and it's possible that the law needs to move, but I think what we need is to take a very, very long hard look at it," he told ePolitix.com.

"If anyone was to consider that important step, they would probably have to do what has been done in some other countries, where there is a two-stage age of consent."