Solicitor General Harriet Harman has joined the Jane Longhurst campaign to ban web sites showing violent pornography.

She is the first heavyweight politician to join dozens of MPs in calling for action to clean up the internet.

Ms Harman yesterday met the family of murder victim Jane to pledge her support.

She told The Argus: "I have been a long-time campaigner against violence against women and I am more than happy to offer my support.

"The presence of extreme internet pornography which promotes sickening acts of violence against women in the name of sexual gratification has become a serious and grave issue.

"It is important action is taken to block access to these images."

Musician Graham Coutts was convicted of strangling Brighton special needs teacher Jane. During the trial he admitted an addiction to internet web sites showing pictures of strangled women.

More than 100 readers have so far signed The Argus's petition backing the campaign.

The drive is being spearheaded by Jane's mother Liz Longhurst and her sister Sue Barnett, both from Reading.

Petitions are being gathered throughout the UK calling on the Government to put pressure on web hosting companies to drop the sites and to make it a crime to download deviant material.

Names are being sent to Brighton MPs Des Turner and David Lepper. Mr Turner said: "We are pleased with the response so far but we want as much support as possible.

"It is vitally important to demonstrate the depth of feeling this dreadful murder and use of such sickening internet material has generated."

Ms Barnett has been appointed business development director on the board of the Internet Awareness and Advisory Foundation (IAAF).

The foundation is lobbying for the elimination of internet-related crime and is campaigning for the Government to set up an internet blacklist to block illegal internet content from being viewed within the UK.

Ms Barnett said: "Complacency and excuses are not enough.

"I joined the IAAF because it is as keen as my family and I to see positive action to put a stop to people being able to view illegal material online and to criminalise those web sites showing extreme pornographic violence.

"At the end of the trial we were told it was too difficult to stop people in the UK from viewing these sorts of despicable web sites.

"Even if we only manage to initially stop 70 per cent of illegal material being viewed in the UK at least we are trying to do something about it."

The IAAF is also launching a two-year project that would see a fleet of customised "safety buses" touring the UK, visiting schools, local businesses and communities.

The buses would be equipped with the latest technology, including internet security and safety features to educate users on how to protect themselves and their family online.

The programme will be funded by an internet exhibition and music festival at Wembley later this year.

Pop stars are expected to perform and pledge their support.