The president of a university students' union has been criticised for suggesting a mural in memory of First World War soldiers is 'painted over' because it displays only 'white men'.

Emily Dawes, the head of the University of Southampton Students' Union, provoked outrage when she referred to the university's Rotherstein Mural as a 'mural of white men' and called for it to be taken down.

She tweeted: 'Mark my words - we're taking down the mural of white men in the uni Senate room, even if I have to paint over it myself.'

The University of Southampton Students' Union President Emily Dawes has provoked anger with this tweet threatening to paint over a First World War memorial

She also posted this tweet, suggesting she understood the significance of the mural

Ms Dawes has yet to remove the post, despite the students' union issuing an apology

Her comments refer to this mural, which depicts an unknown soldier from the First World War being awarded a degree. Local history enthusiasts have asked that it be left alone

The students' union have apologised for her comments, but she has not removed the original post from Twitter, and has since posted another message saying 'white people' are 'so so ignorant and closed minded'.

The university's website states that the Rothenstein Mural, which is in the Senate Room of the Highfield Campus, was painted in 1916 'as a memorial to members of the British universities serving in the Great War'.

'It depicts an academic procession and the conferring of a degree on an "unknown soldier" undergraduate by the then Chancellor of Cambridge University,' according to the university.

Other Twitter users criticised Ms Dawes' post, with one writing: 'People who died for freedom are beneath your contempt because of the colour of their skin.'

Another added: 'Before destroying a mural depicting men who fought & died for the freedoms you enjoy, perhaps you could visit the library on campus & acquaint yourself with the reasons for the painting in the first place.'

A local history enthusiast also pleaded with her to leave the mural alone.

Her comments have provoked anger from many in the city, who pointed out the bravery of those who fought and died in the First World War

It is unclear whether Ms Dawes knew of the significance of the mural when she posted the comment on Twitter yesterday. She has been contacted for comment.

However, another tweet she posted about the mural, in which she mentions Armistice Day suggests she was aware of its meaning.

Her expletive-ridden messages states: 'ONE OF THE WOMEN JUST SAID "it's nearly armistice day so are we covering up this tapestry??" AND HOLY S***. F*** YES. GRL PWR #sotonsenatelive'.

A spokesman for the student union said: 'We apologise for the recent statement from our President regarding the Rotherstein Mural and any upset this may have caused.

'This [was] a personal view and not that of the Union. We do not believe the statement was said to cause upset or disrespect to anyone and does not follow our mission or values.

'We have reached out to our President to ask for a statement to be released.'

Ms Dawes is one of eight sabbatical officers who represents students at the university

Some have supported her views, saying the mural 'reinforces white middle class stereotypes'

The university says it is proud of the mural, which shows an 'unknown soldier' getting a degree

It was presented to the university by the son of its artist, Sir William Rothenstein, in 1959 and appears on the wall of the university's senate room in this building on campus.

Ms Dawes, who grew up in London but whose family live in Virginia in the US, boasted about her 'extra as heck' manifesto when she ran to be president of the organisation.

She campaigned for unisex toilets, sexual consent training, 'mass water fountain installation' and 'social media accessible to multiple cultures'.

The physics graduate, who was previously president of the university's Feminist Society, says her favourite thing about Southampton is the 'pretty dope' vegan food.

A spokesman for the University of Southampton said: 'The comments made by the Students’ Union President regarding the Rothenstein Mural are not shared by the University of Southampton and do not represent the views of the University community.

'We are very proud to display the Mural, painted in 1916, which serves as a memorial to all members of British universities who served in the Great War (World War I).'