AN artist has been asked to withdraw one of his paintings from an exhibition in his local library.

Chris Coates, of Dean Street, Shildon, is displaying work on the theme of the moth and motherhood in the children's section.

He was asked to remove a picture depicting a dying woman after a parent complained to library staff.

Mr Coates, 48, said: "It is in the children's library, but I don't see why they can't look at a dying woman's picture when they read books like Frankenstein and Dracula.''

The self-confessed alcoholic said he had exhibited his work across the North-East, and in Japan and the US, but had never been asked to take a painting down before.

A Durham County Council arts, museums and library service spokesman said the display had been put in the children's section of the library because there was already a display in the adult section.

"There was a complaint from a parent who thought the picture was a bit scary for children, and that view was shared by the library officials," the spokesman said.

"We would have had absolutely no problem with the painting had there been space for it in the adult section of the library.''

The exhibition continues until March 31.