Anger as American Pie scene shown to children

Horrified parents fled from a Wolverhampton cinema after explicit scenes from American Pie: Reunion were accidentally shown to a crowded cinema full of children.

Families hoping to see Johnny Depp's new fantasy comedy Dark Shadows at Cineworld in Bentley Bridge, Wednesfield, were left stunned when the graphic opening sequence of the 15-rated film played on screen instead.

Cinema bosses today apologised, blaming "genuine human error" for the mistake.

More than 130 people were in the cinema at the time.

One mother of two, aged 44, had taken her 10-year-old son to watch Depp's turn as newly rewakened vampire Barnabas Collins, and said they arrived just as the film began on Wednesday.

"People were already looking confused and someone said there had been some inappropriate trailers beforehand," said the woman, from Finchfield, who did not wish to be named.

"Then American Pie started and someone went out to find an usher, but within just a couple of minutes it started getting really graphic. We all started getting up and dragging our children out.I covered my son's eyes so he couldn't see what was happening but I couldn't stop him hearing some very explicit things."

Angry parents gathered outside the screen to confront staff, who put the correct film on and gave everyone a free ticket.

"We got an apology and a complimentary ticket, but that isn't the point. My son has seen and heard things I think are highly inappropriate for someone so young," the mother added.

Cineworld spokesman Joe Dawes today apologised for the mix up.

"We have investigated the incident and can confirm that this was a genuine human error," he said. "We apologise sincerely to all those in the screen at the time.

The problem was rectified after five minutes and all 135 customers who were affected by the incident were given complimentary tickets.

"We take matters such as this very seriously and are currently assessing how the procedure can be improved to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Earlier this year parents were horrified as they sat with their children before a screening of Puss In Boots when a graphic trailer for an exorcism murder movie was shown at Wandsworth Cineworld, London.