The Times BFI 51st London Film Festival has pulled Ben Affleck's directoral debut Gone Baby Gone from its programme because of fears of similarities to the case of missing girl Madeleine McCann.

'The film is about the abduction of a young girl,' said festival artistic director Sandra Hebron.

'Because of the developments in the Madeleine McCann case, I think there is a desire not to cause people any upset.

There is just a feeling that this is not the right time to release the film or have it in the festival.'

Affleck's film, starring the director's brother Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman andMichelle Monaghan, is based on the 1998 book by Dennis Lehane.

It was shot in the US in 2006, therefore any resemblances to the McCann case are entirely coincidental but such is the sensitivity surrounding the case that the film's Dec 27 release date has been put back.

Miramax said:'Miramax and BVI UK are sensitive to the depth of feeling surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

We have been closely following the case and have decided to delay the release of the film on the UK.'

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