Brooke Shields' nude pic removed from exhibition

The provocative nude photograph of 10-year-old Brooke Shields has been removed from the Tate exhibition, following a visit by the police.

The picture by New York artist Richard Prince showing Shields standing naked in a bathtub, with a heavily made-up face and oiled torso had attracted the fury of child campaigners amid concerns it could be in breach of child pornography laws.

They had described the photograph as a 'magnet' for paedophiles.

"The exhibit is temporarily closed. We are in discussions with police," the Telegraph quoted a spokesman as saying. The Tate chose to include the picture in the Pop Life: Art In A Material World after consulting lawyers.

The controversial picture, called Spiritual America, was put in a separate room behind a closed door bearing a warning that the work was 'challenging'.

"Officers from the Obscene Publications Unit met with staff at the Tate Modern regarding an image,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

“The officers have specialist experience in this field and are keen to work with gallery management to ensure that they do not inadvertently break the law or cause any offence to their visitors," he added.