Blavod Black Vodka

Legendary British film maker Nicolas Roeg has "pushed the boundaries of public taste" in his latest TV ad for Blavod Black Vodka that fools viewers into think it depicts a woman having her public hair shaved.

Only the final scenes of the advert reveal that the woman's lover has actually shaved her head.

Roed, who turned 76 on Sunday, made his name in the 1970s with a string of bold films including The Man Who Fell to Earth, starring David Bowie.

The advert was originally blocked by censors but has been cut and now cleared, but is still likely to spark controversy.

It screens next month - at a time when alcohol companies and advertisers are concerned over a tough set of draft regulations prpposed by Ofcom, the regulator, that clamp down on using sex appeal to sell alcohol.

Mr Roeg said in a statement the advertisement was "all about the suspense".