ANGRY Worcestershire residents have backed MP Peter Luff's criticism of a controversial TV show.

The Mid-Worcestershire Tory said he received his biggest ever postbag after condemning Jerry Springer: The Opera.

He wrote to the BBC last week asking for it to be pulled from schedules because of the offence it would cause.

"I had about 30 or 40 letters of support which is more than I've ever had on any single issue," said Mr Luff.

Mr Luff (right) said it was "admirable" of a producer at BBC Radio 3 to quit yesterday after the corporation went ahead with screening the show on Saturday night.

Antony Pitts stood down because the programme offended him as a Christian.

"I think this principled resignation shows just how serious a decision it was to go ahead with the screening," he added.

"The blasphemy was far, far worse than even the most detailed news reports had led me to believe," said Mr Pitts.

A spokeswoman for the BBC, which received a record 47,000 complaints over the show before it was screened said: "We regret that Antony has felt it necessary to resign on a point of principle over this issue and we wish him well."

Meanwhile, reports this morning said the London stage production of the opera will finish its run early.

Seats were available until this October but the show will close in February.