artist Mrs. Sheilagh Head.

The 13-year-old paintings were on the wall of the cafe at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

They have now been painted over and are to be replaced with the work of local photographer Mr. Scott Stallard.

The decision followed a wrangle over the cost of touching up the murals.

It is understood Mrs. Head offered to carry out the refurbishment at a discount rate.

But the Women's Hospital Auxiliary apparently claimed it did not have enough money.

Mrs. Head is said later to have given permission for the murals to be destroyed.

Yesterday Mrs. Head, well known locally for her landscape paintings, declined to comment.

Friends, however, have said she is upset by what has happened.

It is claimed the cost of displaying the photographs is more than that for refurbishing the murals.

Another renowned artist Mr. Sam Morse-Brown has also expressed dismay.

In a letter to The Royal Gazette he said the atmosphere of the cafe appeared to have been changed.

He stated good murals should "enliven a wall surface without disturbing its architectural flatness''.

"This rules out photographic realism, atmospheric effects and strong contrasts in tone and colour which might be distracting,'' he wrote.

"The painting should be planned not only to echo the pervading colour-scheme of a room, workplace or building, but also to be in harmony with the work done in the room and painted with a medium that will be washable, non-reflecting and permanent when dry.'' Mr. Morse-Brown added: "The reason why I was so sorry to see the destruction of these two murals which, incidentally, were presented to the hospital by Sheilagh Head, is because they served to show how all these requirements can be met without losing that valuable asset -- a painter's handwriting.

"I was disappointed to find them no longer enhancing the happy atmosphere of our coffee shop.'' Yesterday Ms Kathleen Mayor, president of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary Office, said she was reluctant to get drawn into a public row.

She said, however, Mrs. Head had asked for the murals to be destroyed.

"This was not our desire. We did not think there was anything that bad with the murals. We were merely doing what the artist requested.'' Ms Mayor said Mrs. Head had deemed the murals to be in "deplorable condition''.

Mrs. Sheilagh Head.