The Greek government has renewed its calls for Britain to return the Elgin Marbles following revelations that the ancient Greek sculptures were damaged by over-zealous cleaning at the British Museum in the 1930s.

All of the main Greek newspapers are giving prominent coverage to the allegations that the Elgin Marbles were damaged by too much scrubbing.

"Bring the Elgin Marbles Back Now" is the front page banner headline on one newspaper.

Greece's Minister of Culture, Mr Evangelos Venizelos, says the news undermines one of Britain's main arguments for keeping the Elgin Marbles.

He will be formally writing to his British counterpart requesting their return.

These 2,500-year-old sculptures, part of a much larger frieze from the Parthenon in Athens, were legally removed by Lord Elgin early last century, but for years the Greek government has been pressurising Britain for their return.