Channel 4 today defied calls to pull a programme featuring graphic pictures of the car crash that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, insisting it was a responsible documentary.

The Conservative Party called for the broadcaster to cancel Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel after newspaper reports said it included the first public airing of images taken by French photographers immediately after the Paris collision in 1997.

The film, to be broadcast on June 6, shows one picture of Diana receiving oxygen from a French doctor and other explicit images of the interior of her car, the Observer reported at the weekend.

But Channel 4 today said it had “carefully and sensitively selected” which pictures to use and that in the only picture showing the car’s occupants the victims had been blacked out.

It said the controversial image had previously been seen in the British press and that reports about what the film showed were “misleading and inaccurate”.

A spokesman for the broadcaster said: “These photographs are an important and accurate eye-witness record of how events unfolded after the crash.

“We acknowledge there is great public sensitivity surrounding pictures of the victims and these have not been included.

“Some photographs will be of the scene inside the tunnel but in none of the pictures is it possible to identify Diana or indeed any of the crash victims.

“Only one image shows the occupants of the car after the crash and it has been appropriately obscured to avoid any unwarranted intrusion into their privacy or that of their families.”

Channel 4 said the film had been made by its experienced history department and that there was “genuine public interest” in how the events leading to Diana’s death had unfolded.

The spokesman added: “We are confident that once people have seen this film, they will agree it is a well made and responsible documentary.”

The programme also features new interviews with photographers and other witnesses to the crash.

Hugo Swire, the Shadow Culture Secretary, last night urged Channel 4 to reconsider whether to show the documentary.

He pointed out that the broadcaster’s editorial policy came under scrutiny last week when Ofcom ordered it to apologise publicly for mishandling the Celebrity Big Brother race row.

Mr Swire said: “It should be remembered that Diana, as well was being a public figure, was a mother.

“This kind of coverage must be deeply distressing to Princes William and Harry.

“We would expect more from a public service broadcaster than showing sensationalist material in this way.

“It is difficult to see who will be served from broadcasting such sensational and private material.

“The best thing Channel 4 can do for the British public and Diana’s family is simply not to broadcast this programme.”

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