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The company which licenses children's TV character Peppa Pig has withdrawn her from a Labour party election event.The pre-school character was due to visit a children's centre later as part of Labour's launch of their manifesto for families.
But E1 Entertainment said it had agreed the character should not attend the event to avoid any controversy.
The British cartoon series, which follows the pig, her family and friends, is shown in 180 countries.
Its five-year-old central character helps to promote the government-funded Sure Start children's centres.
Invitation
In a news release, Labour had said it was delighted that Peppa Pig had accepted the party's invitation to join Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper and Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell on a visit to a children's centre to highlight Labour's policies to support families.
But TV channel Five, which broadcasts the series, and the programme makers, told the BBC they knew nothing about it.
The show's distributor, E1 Entertainment, said Peppa Pig had been invited but would not now be appearing.
It said: "Peppa Pig is a well known fan of Sure Start children's centres but, in the interests of avoiding any controversy or misunderstanding, we have agreed she should not attend."
Aimed at children aged two and above, Peppa Pig won a children's Bafta in 2005 for best pre-school animation.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.