Arts centre bosses have temporarily removed paintings of naked couples after a mother complained they were pornographic.

They are the sort of paintings of which Rubens might have been proud and are, perhaps, not smutty by today's standards.

However, the hint of a bare breast or well-formed rear proved too much for one mother who feared the images were too pornographic for her daughter to see and demanded they be removed.

The offending paintings of naked couples embracing are part of a series of watercolours by Brighton-based artist Lucy Parker, on show at The Hawth in Crawley.

In the most explicit one there is only a hint of pubic hair.

Bosses at the theatre and arts centre decided to remove two of the paintings for the duration of two educational programmes and put them back afterwards.

Ms Parker, 44, said: "The exhibition has had a good reception but I am not surprised to get a reaction.

"I'm from Brighton and anything goes. It is more reserved here.

"I do life paintings because there is nothing more beautiful than the human body. The paintings were of a series of couples. They generally have been boyfriend and girlfriend."

Ms Parker has been an artist for 20 years and is a member of the Fiveways Artists' organisation.

Kevin Eason, head of arts at The Hawth, said: "We received a complaint. The parent said the nature of the paintings caused offence to her children.

"I took the decision and advised Lucy that, for the period of the performance, we would take the paintings down but put them back once it was over.

"We are not prepared to compromise the exhibition by taking them down permanently."