The Argus is asking readers to join a campaign to ban the violent sex web sites that contributed to the murder of Jane Longhurst.

The Justice for Jane petition calls on the Government to pressure web site providers to drop the sites and to make it a crime to download such deviant material.

Sue Barnett today called on the city her sister loved to be the driving force behind a worldwide campaign.

She said: "Brighton and Hove is a vibrant, can-do city - it is time to show it.

"Jane loved living there. It has great vibes and is really positive. I hope everyone there signs the petition.

"The Argus effort is excellent and we are grateful for all the support from individuals and communities.

"There are a lot of professional people living in your area and I would especially appeal to them to use their influence."

Miss Barnett was in Lewes Crown Court last month when Graham Coutts was jailed for life for murdering Jane, a 31-year-old special needs teacher.

The court heard how Coutts, a 35-year-old musician of Waterloo Street, Hove, was obsessed with necrophilia and strangulation sex, an addiction fuelled by web sites.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to block access to such sites and to make downloading such material a criminal offence similar to child pornography.

Miss Barnett said: "But for the easy access to these grotesque sites, Jane would be alive today.

"Life was literally squeezed out of her by a man who used his credit card to feed his twisted fantasies."

Miss Barnett warned there were other potential killers feeding their deviant cravings on the internet but Jane's family is determined to prevent anyone else dying like her.

She said the campaign was not against "top-shelf" pornography but "extreme, frightening material from the darkest corners of the human mind".

Coutts admitted in court how he felt isolated with his perversion until he clicked on to the web sites. Suddenly, he was cyber chatting with people with similar fetishes. It made him feel more normal and accepted.

Miss Barnett was recently appointed business development director for the Internet Awareness and Advisory Foundation, which highlights the dangers and pitfalls of internet issues.

It is planning a rally and gig at Wembley in October and MPs and pop bands have been invited.

Meanwhile, Miss Barnett wants service providers to stop the violence-against-women web sites.

The Argus clicked on to one search engine and typed in the word necrophilia. It provided a host of choices.

Miss Barnett said: "Most providers, engines and web hosts are highly respectable but are unaware of the true nature of their clients.

"They will drop them like hot bricks if faced with public shaming or legal action."

Brighton MPs David Lepper and Des Turner will present petition names to Home Secretary David Blunkett. A similar petition is running simultaneously in Reading where Jane's family lives.

Dr Turner said: "I'm delighted The Argus is putting its weight behind a very important issue.

"It is absolutely vital we find ways of controlling this grossly irresponsible use of the internet.

"Violent sex material, like child pornography, is completely unacceptable and a scourge that must be stopped."

Mr Lepper said: "It is great to have The Argus fighting the campaign Jane's family began.

"If we can get action and changes in the law then it will be a lasting memorial to Jane Longhurst.

"She was a very talented person who was much loved."

Mr Lepper and Jane's family recently met Mr Blunkett and Home Office minister Paul Goggins.

Mr Lepper said: "The ministers are committed to doing all they can to get international action to crack down on these web sites."

Mr Lepper is hoping for action on two fronts - making it a crime to download violent sex material and tracking credit card transactions to prevent payments to the web sites.

He said: "This petition is a very important part of the campaign. It helps the Government understand how strongly people feel, especially in the city where Jane lived and worked."

Jane's mother Liz Longhurst sent a personal message to readers of The Argus: "At present it is perfectly legal to view such images (although illegal to copy them and transmit them to others).

"I feel strongly that the law has to be changed.

"Being realistic, I do realise that there is not much that the average person can do except make their feelings known in general about these vicious pornographic sites.

"I know that the internet service providers could do more to regulate such sites but they are reluctant to do so because of the money that is generated for them.

"We hope this will be the start of a nationwide petition as part of the campaign to get the worst of these sites closed down.

"I believe my dear daughter would be alive today if it were not for these violent sites on the world wide web and I am delighted The Argus is giving publicity to the petition.

"The more people who sign it the better and it really will make some difference to what the Government will do.

"Thanking you for helping us to get a large number of signatures - every single one counts."