Two mums and their children who spent an afternoon chalking a message of support for NHS workers on the wall of their flats were shocked to be told there had been a complaint - and that it would have to be removed.

Shirley Dunbar and her daughter Scarlett, five, had joined Tamsin Loveridge and her daughters Montana, 11 and Layla Rose, 13 drawing a big heart with the colours of the rainbow inside and the message "I love the NHS." It adorned the wall on the side of their flats in Old Mill Place, Wraysbury.

They also made a big banner supporting NHS staff that could be seen from Coppermill Road.

Shirley said: "A man in a van arrived outside. He said there had been a complaint and that he would be back Friday to airbrush it off. We explained to him that it was a tribute to the NHS staff and he said he would report back on it to his office."

Soon social media was alive with messages of support for the chalk artwork. Ward councillor David Cannon who represents Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury on the Royal Borough, emailed the chief executive of L And Q Housing Association who are responsible for the flats expressing his concern.

Now the chalk work is being allowed to stay.

L and Q have put out a statement saying: “Unfortunately a tweet was sent out in error saying this tribute would be removed, but this isn’t the case.

“We think this chalk artwork is a fantastic gesture and we stand with the rest of the country in thanking and applauding our wonderful NHS and all frontline workers for keeping us safe.”