A SKATE shop owner has hit out at the council after she was ordered to remove artwork from the front of the building.

The mural began at Urban Chaos, in Duke Street, Darlington, yesterday morning but, after a member of the public complained, the borough council sent an official to investigate.

Urban Chaos managing director Michelle Murphy said the artist had previously done work for other councils in the North-East. "I just feel this is unfair treatment. The council is just trying to stop cultural development," she said.

"It's just a narrow-minded view - they made a judgement on it before it was even finished.

"They have told us we have a month to remove it or apply for advertising permission that they have already decided they would refuse."

A council spokeswoman said: "It's not a conservation listed building and, as such, they don't need planning permission to paint the exterior. However, they do need advertisement consent."