Posters advertising Angelina Jolie's latest film Wanted have been banned in Britain for allegedly promoting violence.

The images that accompany this summer's action thriller show the Hollywood beauty lying across the bonnet of a car, grasping a gun.

The posters also show the film's other star - Scottish actor James McAvoy - with a weapon in each hand and an accompanying slogan which suggested his life is better since he became an assassin.

And now Britain's Advertising Standards Authority has banned the adverts after receiving a spate of complaints about the images.

A statement from the organisation reads: "We acknowledged most viewers would understand the posters reflected the content of an action film. However, we considered that because the ads featured a glamorous actress, action poses, several images of or related to guns and aspirational text, they could be seen to glamorise the use of guns and violence. We concluded (they) could be seen to condone violence by glorifying or glamorising the use of guns."

A spokesman for the organisation adds, "We have seen a proliferation of complaints from the public about advertising which is seen to condone gun or knife crime. We are responding to the level of consumer concern."