Hurley In Hot Water Over Kids' Swimwear

Elizabeth Hurley's fashion range has been accused of sexualising girls by offering adult-themed swimwear to children aged eight and younger.

The 47-year-old Austin Powers actress and model sells swim and beachwear under her Elizabeth Hurley Beach label.

The collection features swimwear for two groups of children - under eight and eight to 13 - both of which feature bikinis as well as one-piece outfits.

One of the designs in the under eight section is the cheetah-print Gemini Bikini, which features "cute candy coloured ring detail". The website points out that this is similar to the adult June Bikini.

Another is the Mini Cha Cha Bikini - also an animal print design - with "sweet frill detail" on the top and adjustable tie sides on the bottoms.

Hurley's website declares: "Teenagers love this, as well as younger girls. This is the mini version of a similar adult's bikini."

One charity which criticised the inclusion of clothing such as these was Kidscape.

The charity's aim is to keep children safe from abuse, specifically bullying and child sexual abuse.

Kidscape director Claude Knight said the inclusion of the more risque swimwear items was part of a worrying trend to turn children into "kidults".

She said Hurley's swimwear range was a quality line that included some "excellent pieces" - but pointed out some of the garments featured more of an "adult take" which was not appropriate for children.

Ms Knight told Sky News she did not want to single out Hurley for individual blame, but the entire industry should avoid making clothing for children of an adult nature, such as the animal-print designs.

In the United States, Jessica Simpson has been condemned for dressing her baby daughter in a bikini.

The model, designer and Dukes Of Hazzard star was being interviewed by Katie Couric on her Katie talk show when she showed Couric a snap of four-month-old Maxwell in a yellow crochet bikini.

Internet bulletin boards were soon awash with comments both criticising - and defending - the 32-year-old.

One person posted: "Jessica Simpson put her 4 month old in a bikini, so wrong! She'll be wearing a bra next."

Another said: "Does Jessica Simpson not have a PR person to tell her that releasing a pic of her 4 month old baby in a bikini would not be considered cute?"

But another poster insisted: "I thought it was the cutest picture ever. Anyone who is thinking otherwise is just sick."