Edited Bruno to be released as a 15

Sacha Baron Cohen's spoof comedy Bruno has been sent to the editing suite once again - this time to achieve a 15 certificate.

The film, which stars Sacha as a gay Austrian fashionista and features a sado-masochistic orgy, full frontal nudity and an interview with a real terrorist, was given an 18 certificate by the British Board of Film Classification.

A re-edited version of the film will be released in cinemas as a 15 certificate on Friday July 24, making Bruno the first film to have two versions showing concurrently in the UK, Universal Pictures said.

Last week filmmakers announced they were cutting a scene in which Bruno attempts to get Michael Jackson's telephone number from his sister La Toya "out of respect" for the Jackson family following the singer's death.

Now filmmakers have decided to release an edited version, one minute and 50 seconds shorter than the previous, to allow younger viewers to see the film.

President of Universal Pictures International David Kosse, said: "Due to the overwhelming demand by fans who are desperate to see the film, we're really pleased to be able to offer a 15 certificate version."

The announcement comes after the 18 certificate version topped the box office in its first weekend of release.

Bruno was top of the US box office chart with weekend takings of 30.4 million US dollars, and achieved the highest-grossing opening weekend for an 18 certificate film in the UK and Ireland.

It made 55.4 million US dollars in total during its opening weekend.

It means Bruno outpaced the 26.5 million dollar opening weekend for Baron Cohen's previous film, Borat, which was released in 2006.