Phixx landed the BBC in trouble with their dance routine

Ofcom received eight complaints from viewers about the routine, which was shown in November last year.

The BBC said it shared concerns that forms of restraint such as chains may be seen by children as playthings.

Channel 4's Little Friends was also criticised for featuring children swearing and making crude sexual jokes.

It featured an agony aunt being asked demanding questions about sexual practices, and a youthful interviewer asking celebrities inappropriate questions and then swearing at his cameraman.

'Offensive'

Channel 4 argued the "child" was, in fact, 16, and had full parental consent and script approval.

It also argued it was no different from using children in controversial dramas such as The Exorcist.

But Ofcom said it was "offensive to cast a young person who looked considerably younger than his age" to take part in such crude questioning.

It also said as the programme was "produced solely for entertainment purposes", it could not justify casting someone who looked so young.

Ofcom recently took over the job of regulating TV standards from the Broadcasting Standards Commission, which was wound up in December.