The University of Oxford has apologised after an image of a female cleaner being made to clear a message reading “Happy International Women’s Day” was shared on Twitter by a professor.

Oxford Associate Professor of Political theory, Dr Sophie Smith, tweeted the photograph, writing: “Oxford security makes a woman cleaner scrub out ‘Happy International Women’s Day’ on the Clarendon steps. What an image for #IWD, @UniofOxford.”

This message was widely shared on social media, with thousands of people retweeting the image and many sharing their disgust.

One person wrote: “Utterly shameful, Oxford. Degrading, demeaning & insulting that security men believe they had the right to instruct a woman cleaner to remove a message that seeks to celebrate women.”

Another said: “What a powerful image, and poor judgement on behalf of Oxford University.”