MPS and media watchdogs today called for a TV stunt show to be banned after it prompted sick copycat pranks which almost ended in a boy's death.

The move came after a teenager who filmed as his 10-year-old friend who was accidentally set on fire vowed to close down the website he dedicated to the programme Jackass.

Michael Davies, 15, of Anchor Avenue, Darwen, was videoing a group of youngsters jumping over fire to add to the collection of stunts on his website called Live Now Die Later.

But their actions almost ended in the death of his friend Joe Armstrong, of Tunnel Street, after petrol was squirted into the flames.

His mother and police blamed the culture of copycat stunts prompted by Jackass for his injuries.

Today TV watchdog Mediawatch UK called for Jackass to be banned as a result of the "shocking" evidence presented to them by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

And MPs called for new TV and Communications regulator OFCOM to ban the show, which has been shown on MTV and Channel 4, under the Communications Act, as it causes "alarm and offence".

Today, a spokesman for Channel 4 said the show was always shown after 11.30pm, when children are not expected to be watching, and contained strenuous warnings to viewers not to carry out stunts.

MTV could not be contacted.

Burnley's Peter Pike said: "This is very disturbing. If the children's behaviour was a copycat incident, I think OFCOM should clearly look into this and the programme and take the necessary measures.''

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said: "TV should not encourage children to take part in dangerous activities and clearly there should be an investigation by OFCOM.''

Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: "I am concerned about the possibility that the boys were imitating a TV programme."

The stunt in which Joe, a pupil at Tockholes Primary School, was injured was set up in a field behind Anchor Avenue, Darwen, on Thursday and was one of a long line of stunts Michael and his pals had filmed.

They include Michael setting his feet on fire, running on a bed of fire, stapling his hand and a boy having nails pressed into his forehead.

Joe, who Michael said he thinks of as a younger brother, suffered serious burns to his chest and thighs. He is expected to remain in Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, for a month and be scarred for life.

Jackass is filmed in America shown on MTV Europe and repeated on Channel 4.

John Beyer, director of Mediawatch UK, founded by standards campaigner Mary Whitehouse, said: "It seems to me scandalous that such programmes get on air and clearly the regulator needs to play much more of a role in disallowing programmes like this under the Communications Act.

"The evidence that the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has should alarm everybody to do with television and it should alarm parents who allow their youngsters to watch this kind of TV."

Michael's mum, Beverley Clare, said: "He was in total shock over what happened to Joe. Mikey went up to the hospital to see Joe on Saturday and it really hit him then.

"The boys have been so traumatised since it happened. They know it was a stupid prank that went seriously wrong.

"The hospital said if it hadn't been for Mikey's quick actions, Joe could have been dead. He rolled him on the floor and took his jacket off to beat the flames out. He then picked him up and carried him to my neighbour's house.

"I am a first-aider and when I first qualified Michael looked in my book at the burns section because he had done a daft stunt before, pouring petrol on his socks and setting them on fire."

A spokesman for Channel 4 said Jackass was last shown on the channel in October 2003 and there were no plans for a series to be shown in the immediate future, although it is occasionally used as a "filler" programme.

They added: "At the start of the programme strenuous targeted warnings are issued.

"These warnings are further heightened when there is a more extreme stunt and it is always made clear these are performed by professionals.

"Obviously the show was scheduled responsibly after the watershed and in consultation with our lawyers.

"The more extreme stunts had ticker tape warning across the bottom of the screen, which reiterated the above message."