Oxford University has apologised after a picture was posted on social media of a female cleaner scrubbing out 'Happy International Women's Day' graffiti.

The graffiti had been chalked onto a flight of steps outside the university's Clarendon building and the moment was captured by an Oxford academic Professor.

Sophie Smith uploaded the photo to Twitter which sparked backlash against the decision to ask a woman to remove the message on International Women's Day.

She captioned the image: 'Oxford security makes a woman cleaner scrub out “Happy International Women’s Day” on the Clarendon steps. What an image for #IWD'

Sophie Smith posted this image on Twitter which sparked an angry backlash

One Twitter user supported the post, writing: 'How many men does it take to erase #InternationalWomen's Day in Oxford?

'None, they make a woman do it instead @UniOfOxford.'

Another added: 'Once again, @UniOfOxford suppressing freedom of expression, on today of all days. Someone in the management should explain to those blokes.'

Oxford University later apologised for the oversight claiming it should never have happened

Despite the apology Professor Smith requested that the female cleaner was given the rest of the day off and a cup of tea

Dr Sarah Irving posted: 'Who took the decision to send her out to do this @UniOfOxford? How are they being handled? And did the woman who was sent to do this given the day off [sic] and a living wage award?

One user believed that the picture wouldn't be good for the university's image: 'Having a woman scrub off chalk that says Happy International Woman's Day while some blokes stand around in the background isn't a good look.'

Twitter user Jessie Raymond added: 'A picture's worth a thousand words.'

Fellow protesters took to Twitter to slam the decision to ask a woman to clean the message

Oxford University apologised for the incident, saying in a statement: 'We are deeply sorry for this and for offence caused. International Women's Day is hugely important to Oxford. This should not have happened.'

Responding to the apology, Professor Smith added: 'I appreciate your apology, but far more importantly can you please make sure that the woman asked to remove the message receives a heartfelt apology, a warm cup of tea, the rest of the day off and, along with all our precarious staff, good enough pay to live in this city.'

However some Twitter users believed she was simply doing her job.

However some Twitter users believed that even if the cleaner was male some people would still be offended by it

One user wrote: 'So what is that problem if that is part of her job?'

Another believed the situation wouldn't be much different if a man had been asked to clean the graffiti, he said: 'I'm all for IWD, women are great. What I don't like is people trying to be offended by nothing. That's what I feel this is. It'd be the same if it happened to be a male cleaner 'ruining IWD as he removes all celebration from these steps.'

International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900s. This year, it is being marked by protests around the world as women demand change to achieve greater equality.