From the 1930s, saucy cartoons were increasingly popular until Donald McGill, famed for his buxom beach babes (see above), was prosecuted in 1954 for breaking the Obscene Publications Act.

ECONOMIST: The surprising survival of the picture postcard

Whilst it is possible that some of the hard-core sites visited by Graham Coutts - who was found guilty on Wednesday of murdering Ms Longhurst - breach the Obscene Publications Act, the fact that they are hosted by service providers (ISP's) based overseas, means that the UK authorities have no jurisdiction to act.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Policing the net

He said the former was "over an allegation or allegations relating to indecent obscene publications" and the latter "over a claim or claims relating to the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889".

BBC: Sir Cyril Smith