Russian MPs have issued a final threat to TV stations to scale back on violent shows like The Simpsons if they want to avoid censorship.

State Duma deputies overwhelmingly voted for a motion warning television channels to cut down on the amount of violence they show.

First Deputy Speaker Lyubov Sliska said it was a "yellow card" for the channels.

A 417-1 landslide vote approved the resolution, initiated by Sliska and fellow United Russia member Farid Gainullin.

It asks for television companies to more strictly adhere to a voluntary code of conduct signed in June by the chief executives of six leading national channels to avoid promoting a "cult of violence and cruelty".

MP Yelena Afanasyeva stated, "The experts gave just the result we feared. They found The Simpsons were crammed with violent and aggressive episodes. These cartoons also introduce antagonism between children and parents."