A celebrity bikini designer was under fire for parading a young girl down the catwalk with near-naked models during a sell-out show at the Los Angeles Fashion Week.

Critics were shocked at the sight of the schoolgirl in a bikini alongside older scandily-clad models.

"She can only have been about ten," said one member of the audience. "It was very inappropriate."

The stunt was part of a show by designer Ashley Paige, famous for her knitted and crocheted bikinis and for the sexy swimwear favoured by stars including Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani and Carmen Electra.

It is not unheard of for young models to be used during the fashion week when top designers show off their new lines in LA, but not on a catwalk surrounded by almost topless women - some with just flower motifs covering their nipples.

Conservative family campaigner Jean Terry said designers need to be more aware of the message they are sending out by using young children on the catwalks.

"Nearly naked models are not the kind of role models we want for our children," she said, "and young girls should certainly not be used to promote a promiscuous image.

"Designers like to be controversial, but they should think very carefully about the message they are sending out by using young models."

Ashley Paige was the main event of Thursday¡¯s shows at LA¡¯s Smashbox Studio at the Mercedes-Benz sponsored fashion week.

The Hollywood-based designer has said: "I think the women who like my stuff...exude sexuality."

She started the trend for knit bikinis and even came up with a method of keeping them waterproof.