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Supermarket chain Morrisons has apologised after growing anger at its decision to beam a bread advert onto the Angel of the North.

The under pressure supermarket tried to kick start a new price cutting move over the weekend by projecting an image of a baguette onto the Angel’s wings.

The move was criticised by artist Antony Gormley, who has always wanted the artwork to stand without any interference isolated and unlit. Mr Gormley had a clause added to the original agreement when work on the Angel began in 1994, refusing permission to light the Angel.

“I’d rather the Angel is not used for such purposes, but it’s out there,” Mr Gormley said yesterday.

It is unclear if Morrisons had permission from Gateshead Council for the stunt.

In 2011 Tourism Ireland fell foul of council rules when it tried to light the Angel green for St Patrick’s day. At the time the council revealed it had blocked the move as there was no permission for the projection or use of council land.

The Morrisons advertising stunt prompted outrage on social media site Twitter, with many criticising the supermarket for “cultural vandalism”.

Morrisons has confirmed to the Chronicle that the image was a projection and not a digital recreation.

A spokesman added: “We’re sorry if you thought we got carried away by shining a baguette on the Angel of the North and apologise unreservedly to those to whom we have caused offence. We were trying something different which was meant to put a smile on peoples faces but clearly it wasn’t to everybody’s tastes. We’re so proud of our northern roots and the last thing we want to do is offend anybody.”

On Twitter, people hitting out at the advert included Patrick Ness, who said it was “philistine and disgraceful”. Michelle Moore said: “If there is justice this will fail.”

And Simon Heartfield said he was “appalled to see public art used this way.”

Those views were shared by Gateshead MP Ian Mearns, who said the supermarket should have “used its loaf” before going ahead with the advert.

He added: “I doubt very much that they had permission for this. Antony Gormley clearly never intended the Angel to be used like this, and Morrisons should know better. This is just tacky.”

Mr Mearns added that the commercial gain Morrisons were hoping for made it stand out from the light hearted moment in 1998 when a 30ft Shearer shirt was draped over the Angel.

Back then Newcastle United fans won some praise after using a combination of a fishing line, rubber balls and catapults to hoist the replica on to the statue to mark a Wembley appearance.

Gateshead Council did not respond to requests for a comment.