Roberts calls for ban on celebrity child photos

Julia Roberts has urged US lawmakers to ban the paparazzi from taking pictures of celebrities' children - branding the practice "bloodthirsty".

The actress goes to extreme lengths to protect her three kids - four-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, and 20-month-old Henry from the camera lens.

And Roberts is outraged reporters are so keen to critique and compare famous offspring.

She tells Allure magazine: "I don't know what is going on with this crazy, bloodthirsty child hunt. Honestly, I think it should be against the law to take a picture of a celebrity's child. And all the, 'Who's got the cutest baby?'

"I had to reinstate my faith in people when, one night, I was on the computer, and I ended up stumbling upon some pictures I had never seen of my children playing at a park. What upset me was all these comments like, 'One is cute; that other one sure is ugly.' Even commenting nicely, what are you doing critiquing a child? It sickened me. Fortunately, it's a rare occurrence for us."