 Blue Peter presenters, such as Zoe Salmon, wear their badges proudly |
Two MPs have tabled a Commons motion demanding that internet auction sites ban the sale of Blue Peter badges. Liberal Democrats John Barrett and Andrew George have condemned what they say is an "unscrupulous" practice.
They say the badges "should be earned, not bought or sold", and selling them will "devalue their status".
The BBC has suspended free entry to 200 UK attractions for badge holders because so many badges have been sold via the internet.
The sought-after emblems are awarded to children for endeavour and as prizes, and to adults who appear as guests on the long-running programme.
The BBC's investigations unit has spent several months monitoring the sale of badges online and large numbers have been removed from the eBay site following its intervention.
A spokesperson said the BBC was examining ways to verify that a badge did actually belong to the person wearing it.
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