'It's a lot of fuss over nothing'

The art world warned of a "climate of fear" as it expressed its dismay over the closure of the gallery.

An artist exhibiting alongside Betsy Schneider, Sue Andrews, said: "People have issues with any image of a naked child, no matter what it is, no matter what the context. It is the climate we live in."

Charlotte Edwards, deputy editor of Art Review, said: "There is a fear whipped up by various newspapers about paedophilia.

"The police are like cats on a hot tin roof when it comes to art and you would think they have better things to do.

"There is a lot more damaging material on the internet." Anna Boggon, a member of the Studio

1.1 artists' collective, said the controversy had created an interesting discussion.

But she added: "I don't think I would be shocked by these images. I don't think they should be censored at all."

Ruth Mitchell, a waitress who lives near the gallery, said she saw nothing offensive about the pictures.

"I am not sure about any artistic merit, but that's a different matter," said 28-year-old Ms Mitchell.

"I can't see anything that would upset people, but nudity is such a sensitive subject. There is always going to be somebody who finds something to object to in pictures where children are concerned."

Delivery driver Mark Roberts, 33, said: "It's asking for trouble to take pictures like this.

"I don't see why anybody would want to take pictures of their children with no clothes on and then put them in a gallery. It doesn't seem very fair on the children, for a start."

Mr Roberts, from Leyton, said he did not like the pictures but was not offended by them and would not have sought to have the show closed down.

"It seems a lot of fuss over nothing in the end," he added.