A restaurant owner has been called upon to remove a controversial picture of Saddam Hussein following complaints from the public.

This Is It Lebanese restaurant, in Station Road, Harrow, put up the picture in its front window resulting in complaints from passers by and members of the public.

Following the complaints, Harrow Borough Council issued the restaurant with an enforcement notice to remove the picture of the former Iraqi dictator.

However the owner has remained defiant and told council officers it was nothing to do with the authority and he was free to display the image.

Council leader Cllr Susan Hall said: “I am all for free speech but the relatives of British service people killed or injured fighting in Iraq might not see it that way.

“Harrow has a multi-ethnic population and to allow this picture to remain in the restaurant window could give offence to many, and could prove a licence for agitators to provoke trouble.

“Public images of dictators, be it Saddam Hussain, Hitler, or the leader of North Korea for that matter have no place in Harrow. This is a restaurant promotion that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.”