Police told a gallery owner to remove a painting from his window because they thought people might find it offensive.

David Burgess, who runs George Street Gallery in Kemp Town, Brighton, was advised by officers to take a picture of a nude woman on a crucifix out of his window.

Mr Burgess refused to remove the painting without permission from the artist, Sara Hill.

Ms Hill, from Rottingdean, has flatly refused to take down the painting, called Apres Rene.

She said: "I am outraged. If the police had had a huge number of complaints about the picture I might just have been able to understand why they did this.

"But for a police sergeant to go in, off his own bat, when no one had said anything about it, I think is ridiculous.

"The image is not meant to be offensive. It is a full-frontal nude painting of myself but it is not pornographic, nor is it meant to be a comment on religion.

"The whole point of the painting is that it is about freedom. I think it is a lot less offensive than the pictures of women found on top-shelf magazines. Yet I would defend those magazines' right to exist. I don't want to look at them so I turn away. Similarly, if people don't like my art, they can turn away."

The painting had already been on display for almost two weeks when the gallery was visited by the area sergeant, Bill Whitehead, on Monday.

A spokesman for Brighton police said: "No one has actually complained about the picture. However, officers on a routine patrol saw it and were concerned it could cause offence to some members of the public.

"We cannot insist the gallery owner takes the painting down. We can only advise him."

Ms Hill said the police action was a waste of time.

She said: "It is a sad fact there are a lot of occasions when police are needed in the St James's Street area because of violent incidents. In fact, people often complain officers are spread too thinly.

"For them to be wasting time trying to get my painting taken down, when no one else is bothered by it, seems ludicrous."

The painting will be displayed until Tuesday.