GOSSIP - HOLY MOLY GOSSIP SITE OPTS TO CENSOR PAPARAZZI SHOTS

British gossip website Holy Moly has said it plans to self-censor paparazzi pictures of celebrities.

A statement on the site said that a "definite change in the perception of paparazzi pictures" had encouraged the Holy Moly administrators to shy away from publishing pictures of celebrities with their children, those not "on duty" and stars "in distress at being photographed".

Referring to the tabloid press' treatment of Britney Spears, the statement added that Holy Moly had been "fairly vocal in its criticism of the pack of LA photographers who are to all intents and purposes following a mentally ill woman around all day".

However the site pledged to continue publishing photos of celebrities at premieres and press conferences, "idiots who go to places like The Ivy" and those involved in alleged tip-offs to the paparazzo.

Holy Moly's decision follows last month's resignation of British lensman Nick Stern from Hollywood photo agency Splash Pictures.

Stern stepped down in protest at the continual "aggressive" hounding of stars such as Britney Spears by Los Angeles snappers, telling the Guardian "directly or indirectly, Britney is going to come to some horrific end, or a member of the public will".

The Holy Moly statement added: "When one of the biggest names in paparazzi jacks it in due to ethics and morals and the world's biggest pop star gets her knickers photographed by 30 people an hour after being released from a mental institute, you know there's a problem on the shop floor."