A pub sign depicting a white woman who gave birth to a black baby has sparked a race row nearly 300 years after the event.

The sign adorns the Labour in Vain pub in Westergate, near Chichester, and represents a historic folk tale about a white woman who had an affair with a West Indian man.

On one side of the sign, the woman is shown bathing her child as she tries to scrub him white, fearing her husband's wrath if he discovers the baby is black.

On the other, the woman is seen scratching her head, wondering how to prevent her infidelity being discovered.

It has long been a tale of social history. Pub owners over the years have been proud enough of the historic tale to boast about the full story on a sign inside.

However, anti racial discrimination campaigners fear the image discriminates against black people.

And they have been given £25,000 to help their campaign, which includes a crusade to have the sign removed after forming the Pub Sign Project Committee.

Paul Wilson, chairman of the committee, said the image discriminates against black people, regardless of whether or not the historical story is true.

The cash has been awarded by the Countryside Agency's local heritage initiative, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Steve Bundock, who has been landlord of the pub for 15 years, said: "The sign is certainly causing controversy in the village. Most locals want to see it stay where it is, but there are some who would like to see it removed.

"I would be happy either way but it does concern me that people are so preoccupied with being politically correct.

"I don't think it is a racist sign."

Villagers are not sure if the story is based on fact but say it was a fair representation of social attitudes during the era.

Mr Bundock said: "Nobody knows if the story actually happened, or if it is fictional. It has been carried down through generations as local knowledge."

The committee is formed of activists including Abi Akinyemi, who works with the Black and Minority Ethnic Community Project, the Racial Harassment Forum and the Refugee and Asylum Seekers' Forum.

Members want to commission an artist to make a less controversial sign.