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The proposals would cover material which 'appears to be life threatening or likely to result in serious, disabling injury'. The move would close a legal loophole that exists at the moment that means that although it is illegal in Britain to publish or distribute the material, it can be legally possessed.

The new proposals

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follow the high profile case of Graham Coutts who was convicted of the murder of Jane Longhurst in 2004. Coutts, who allegedly was addicted to viewing web sites that depicted extreme sexual violence, was ordered to serve a minimum tariff of 26 years in jail.

Longhurst's mother has led a campaign to introduce the law backed by women's groups and a 50,000-signature petition.

Under the new law anyone convicted of an offence would risk a maximum penalty of three years in prison for possession of material depicting serious violence.

Announcing the proposals, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said, 'Such material has no place in our society, but the advent of the internet has meant that this material is more easily available and means existing controls are being bypassed - we must move to tackle this.'

The government says it intends to bring in legislation at the earliest opportunity.