Website that sparked children's book alert removed

A website that replaced bonus content for a children's book series with explicit material has been taken down after prompting a school alert.

Parents at several schools were sent warnings after it was found a URL printed in the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups books by Derby author Andrew Cope was linking to "inappropriate" adult content.

Publisher Puffin said on Wednesday the explicit material had been posted by a third party that had taken over the address.

Now Nominet, a UK registry service provider, says it has suspended the site for breaching the Online Safety Act.

Cope's book series features cute animals using gadgets to solve crimes, catch robbers and undertake daredevil missions.

The URL took young readers to extra content for the series until the website's content was switched.

A Nominet spokesman said: "We have suspended this website for breaching our terms and conditions.

"The website did not conduct suitable age verification as required under the Online Safety Act - and we have advised the domain owner and its registrar.

"The web address featured in this popular children's book series had been allowed to expire by the previous owner and was subsequently purchased by a third party.

"It is recommended that those using web addresses in prominent locations continue ownership of the domain to avoid issues like this."

On Wednesday Puffin Books confirmed the website had once been owned by Cope but had been taken over.

In a statement, the firm and the author said the sale and distribution of the books had been paused and they had been in contact with retail and educational partners about temporarily removing the books.

It led to schools advising parents to remove the books immediately and bring borrowed copies back to school.

Puffin and Cope have been approached for a new comment.