An unnamed national newspaper is expected to come under fire after placing an online advertisement asking readers to confess that games led them to violent crime.

Following the Byron review and Anne Diamond's critical analysis of some of the latest titles, the media onslaught continues with the online ad reading: "A national newspaper wants your story and will pay hundreds of pounds to the right person.

"Write a few lines about how computer games turned you to crime and if it's something we like, we'll call you straight back."

The advertisement appears on a talent community website called starnow, which normally promotes opportunities for budding actors and models.

Games industry trade paper MCV said of the ad: "The attempt to secure an anti-games story with cash is one of the more worrying moves by the national press in the wake of the Byron Review."