Viewers complain about 'sexist leery' Vauxhall TV ad

However, Vauxhall Motors pointed out that the woman and the puppets were already friends - that in a previous ad she had been shown in the home of the red puppet after a night on the town, implying that the two "are in a relationship".

Vauxhall said that, on this basis, the puppet's reaction to the young woman in the "bikerack" ad was that of a boyfriend to his girlfriend rather than that of a leering pervert.

The Advertising Standards Authority agreed that some viewers might interpret the scantily dress of the cyclist and behaviour of the puppets as laddish. However, it concluded that, whilst the ad may be distasteful to some, it was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence. On this point, it investigated the ad under CAP (Broadcast) Television Standards Codes rule 6.1, but did not find it in breach.

The next sequence in the commercial shows the car pull up in front of the cyclist and one of the puppets lean out the window and say: "Come on" and beckon her towards the car. The puppet then activates the car's rear cycle rack so that the woman can place her bike on it, before she gets in the back. The puppet driver adjusts the rear view mirror to watch her join yet more puppets in the rear. The car drives off.

The complainants felt that the ad was irresponsible because it showed a young woman accepting a lift from strangers and so modelled unsafe behaviour to young women and children.

Vauxhall reiterated its point that the woman knew the puppets and was not at any stage in the ad portrayed as being at risk.

The ASA noted that the woman looked delighted to discover the car had a bike rack, that the puppets did not behave in a threatening manner and that children were familiar with watching the exploits of puppets on television and that they would recognise the Vauxhall ad as a fantasy scenario. The complaints were not upheld.