BROADCASTING watchdogs will consider the case of a schoolboy badly burned in a copycat prank when drawing up new TV show guidelines.

The move came as police said they were reviewing the incident in which Darwen schoolboy Joe Armstrong, 10, was injured to see if any criminal offence had been committed.

Ofcom, the body which took over responsibility for regulating TV programmes on December 29, is looking at the stunt show Jackass, after the case was highlighted by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

It is drawing up its own guidelines and said it will look at this incident.

Joe, of Tunnel Street, Darwen, a pupil at Tockholes Primary School, received horrific burns to his chest and thighs.

He and his friends jumped over fire while filming their own Jackass style stunts.

The boy's mother complained the show had adversely influenced her son and his friends.

Joe is in Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, and underwent further surgery to the deep 15 per cent burns last night.

Today, Acting Det Supt Neil Smith said: "We are reviewing the circumstances to see if any criminal offence has been committed."

Joe's mother, Allison Hughes, has said she would like to see the show banned and today said she will complain to Ofcom as she fears her son may be scarred psychologically.

An Ofcom spokesman said: "Obviously we would take into account incidents like this and the impact of the Jackass programme."

Ofcom can issue a public decision condemning the broadcaster, stop the broadcaster from repeating any item, and make the broadcaster announce the finding on air.

It can also issue fines and in extreme cases shorten or take away the broadcaster's licence.

The current code expresses specific concern about dangerous or harmful behaviour especially that easily imitated by children.

Jackass has been condemned by police, local MPs and TV watchdog Mediawatch UK for this.

The Evening Telegraph has reported how Joe's friend Michael Davies, 15, of Anchor Avenue, had set up a website called Live Now, Die Later which he dedicated to the show.

But Michael, whose quick action after the horror stunt helped to save Joe's life, has since promised to close down his website.

The MTV show, which was also shown late night on Channel 4 until recently.

It shows actors performing dangerous stunts including shooting each other with stun guns and snorkelling in raw sewage.