City councillors in Oxford have refused to lower the age limit for the film Sweet Sixteen, which focuses on teenagers living on a Scottish council estate.

Film-makers had applied to the city council's licensing committee for a reduction in the classification from 18 to 15, but on November 18 the three-man panel refused. Alex Solaja, licensing officer, told the committee that the majority of local authorities had not agreed to lower the classification.

City councillors Pat Stannard (Lab), Tony Brett (Lib Dem) and Ed Turner (Lab) watched the film. Mr Stannard said: "There are several scenes featuring violence and the use of knives but the characters in the film do not sustain lasting injuries. If the violence was imitated, young people could end up in hospital."