It could have happened to anyone.

Decide to post a picture of your nice new Liverpool FC tattoo for your social media pals, then moments later realise the worst has happened and you've actually exposed rather more than intended to your legion of followers - and their followers, and their followers...

This wake-up-in-a-cold-sweat scenerio was very real for Swedish politician Lars Ohly after he proudly tweeted an Instagram picture of his tattoo.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

"Ha, ha, I accidentally posted a picture on Instagram that showed more than intended. Now corrected," Ohly said on his Twitter account.

Mr Ohly, 56, quickly removed the picture after posting it but couldn't stop the avalanche of comments in social media.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, of the rival Moderate Party joked: "Congratulations - finally, after all these years you have made a genuine public breakthrough."

On his Twitter account the 56-year-old Swede wrote: "Summer's wonderful. The willy picture is today's hot topic. Completely by accident, though. The future will see a more thorough uploading review process."

According to The Local he said the 'best reaction' to the Instagram gaffe was from a fellow politician who texted him to say: "I'd planned to grill sausages tonight but now it's going to be chicken."

Mr Ohly made light of the embarrassment and said he would be more careful when he posts online in future.