Television hypnotist Derren Brown has been attacked by a Midland MP for his latest programme, which enticed people into carrying out an armed robbery.

Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North, has joined forces with the GMB union to criticise the programme The Heist.

In the show, which was broadcast on Wednesday, Derren Brown attempted to persuade a group of responsible, middle-management businessmen and women to steal £100,000 in a bank raid.

The people used plastic guns in the raid, which involved actors and not real bank staff.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin (Lab) said: "Armed robbery is no laughing matter. Channel 4 bosses should try telling people who have been on the receiving end of these terrifying attacks that the trauma they have suffered should be used for entertainment.

"I'm not against entertainment but this clearly went too far. It is completely irresponsible to set up, film and broadcast people carrying out an armed attack like this.

"I'll be raising this with Channel 4 and ministers at the DCMS and the Home Office. I want Channel 4 to apologise and I want assurances that nothing like this will be broadcast again.

"Channel 4 might not think these are serious issues, but the thousands of hardworking, low-paid security guards who risk their lives making a vital contribution to our economy deserve our support."

The GMB, the union representing thousands of security industry workers, criticised the programme as irresponsible and insensitive to the current climate of increases in violent attacks on security staff.

Senior organiser Martin Hird and security branch secretary Nigel Smith, along with the British Security Industry Association, has been campaigning for better protection and proper safeguards for the industry and tougher punishment for robbers.

It said security guards and cash in transit workers are subjected to robberies and attacks on a regular basis.

Colin Baker, who was shot and suffered permanent damage to his hip and leg, said: "I completely deplore the programme for what it was portraying. The involvement by the police and Bank of England is also questionable - they should have taken a more responsible view.

"If Channel 4 wanted the shock factor, perhaps they could have shown the CCTV footage of my attack - real life, not entertainment."