Randy superhero Voteman proves too raunchy for Danes ahead of EU poll

Denmark's parliament has pulled an animated video that aimed to boost voter turnout in the upcoming European elections by showing a violent cartoon superhero engaging in group sex.

The muscled, hairy-chested "Voteman" could be seen punching, slapping and hurling non-voters in a 95-second video that notched up 200,000 views on YouTube before it was taken offline amid a storm of criticism from politicians and social media users.

Voteman was also shown in bed with five women - one of whom performed a sexual act - and throwing a frisky couple in bed through a window.

Viewers of the video complained that it was violent and sexist.

"Why does parliament think Voteman will make people vote?" tweeted Louise Madsen, saying the film "talks down to young people".

The speaker of the Danish parliament, Mogens Lykketoft, admitted yesterday that parliament should have been "more circumspect about what we put our name to".

"Many people whose opinions I deeply respect have perceived the EU Information Centre's cartoon as far more serious and offensive than it is intended," Lykketoft, said.