Community art work created to voice the plight of independent traders was removed by Haringey Borough Council contactors following a complaint.

Artists unveiled the quirky posters just weeks ago on the corner of Avenue Mews and Princes Avenue in Muswell Hill, but it vanished on Tuesday morning – leaving the community and artist Matt Humphrey calling for answers.

However, the mystery was solved today when the council admitted its contractor, Veolia Environmental Services, removed the posters - claiming it "was not made aware" they had been commissioned by traders as community art.

The vanishing art comes weeks after a Banksy mural sprayed near Turnpike Lane station was cut from a Poundshop wall before reappearing for sale on an American auction site. 

Hornsey and Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone, is blaming the council for its lack of “common sense”.

The Liberal Democrat politician told the Haringey Independent: “It is a travesty that Haringey Council removed this artwork. They were fantastic portraits of local traders – inspiring a great sense of community cohesion and originality.

“You would think that after the Banksy saga, the council would have learnt that people simply do not like high quality street art being removed from their area.

“I cannot believe that common sense didn’t kick in at any point before the pictures were washed away. And shockingly, they did not even attempt to contact the artist before they removed them.”

However, after coming under fire, the council has pledged to pay for a replacement mural.

A statement issued to the Haringey Independent today said: “Haringey Council has spoken with its contractor Veolia Environmental Services who has agreed, as a goodwill gesture, to fund a replacement mural.

“Traders have been informed of this offer and both the council and Veolia look forward to working with them and the artist on a new set of posters.”

The posters were photographs of traders in Muswell Hill, including staff from the area's oldest independent shop, W. Martyn, which has been on the high street for more than 100 years.