British broadcaster Floella Benjamin has slammed parents for using 'television as a babysitter' and damaging the minds of the children.

The Play School presenter blamed parents for letting their children watch too many "appalling" imported shows and urged for the need to control them.

"When parents sit down and see what their children are actually watching, they are shocked at how imported television shows are dumbing down our children," The Telegraph quoted her as saying.

She added: "Some responsible parents will talk to their children but millions of kids won't be supervised as parents are working and many parents don't care. The television is used as a babysitter and the children are watching appalling programmes that do not reflect their lives." (ANI)