'Dynamite' mural is to be removed

The artist said the mural was about indigenous tribespeople

A mural in Plymouth depicting a man from an ethnic minority holding a stick of dynamite which was condemned as racially offensive is to be removed.

The graffiti-style picture is in the city's Bretonside bus station.

Plymouth City Council is to remove it although no timetable has been given for its removal or plans announced for what will replace it.

The decision was welcomed by a racial monitoring group. The artist said he had not intended to cause offence.

Unfortunately, it remains in place today Jon McKenzie, The Monitoring Group

The mural was criticised by racial monitoring watchdog the Monitoring Group as a "disturbing racist stereotype clearly linked to terrorism".

Plymouth City Council said it had reached an "amicable consensus" with the artist to remove it and replace it with another artwork.

The artist, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was shocked his work had been interpreted as racially offensive.

BBC South West Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall said: "He said that was not the intention, and that it was intended to be a comment on the plight of indigenous tribespeople around the world whose ways of life have been threatened by the evils of globalisation."

Jon McKenzie, of the Monitoring Group, said: "I think it's a very good decision by the council.

"Unfortunately, it remains in place today, so I'll be interested to know when it's going to be removed, but it's a good decision and the only reasonable one the council could make."