TV's Channel Five has been heavily criticised by the advertising watchdog for sending out a "seriously offensive" fake crime dossier.

Nearly 200 people - including several from North Yorkshire - complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after receiving the grisly crime scene in the post.

It turned out to be part of an advertising campaign by Five to promote the US crime drama CSI:NY.

The package included macabre photographs, a coroner's report, apparently bloodstained fabric sample and a "wanted" picture of a suspect dubbed "The Carbon Copy Killer".

It also contained a number of items which mentioned the recipient and a psychological report on the killer which said he had an obsession with people of the same name.

A total of 197 people complained to the ASA that the mailing was "offensive and distressing" and did not make clear it was an advertisement.

Among the recipients were a number of children.

The ASA ruled the mailing breached its code of practice and said the "disturbing nature of the programme and contents of the mailing would seriously offend those who had not specifically requested information about the CSI series".

Dave Marsh, 58, and his partner, Val, were shocked to open the fake file which was sent through the post to their house in Millfield Lane, York.

"The large number of people who complained about it shows how much Five were at fault," he said.

"The ASA ruling doesn't surprise me at all. It could have caused people to suffer."

Caroline Crane, of Easingwold, was so upset by the dossier she called in the police.

Five explained the mailing had been sent to 30,000 people selected from a database because of their interest in crime-related TV and who had opted to receive relevant information.

It said it had never intended to cause distress, but claimed "a cursory review of the file made clear that it was marketing material".

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, February 16, 2005