WALTHAMSTOW'S annual Art Trail has lost the support of the local authority because one of its 97 events is overtly critical of the council.

Waltham Forest Council is refusing to advertise the event or handle the E17 Art Trail map, which it had agreed to distribute and stock in libraries and other public outlets.

The Guardian understands the council has taken issue with an event titled "Loakes and Co. Trail of Destruction: a walk with speeches." The event is a tour guided by Antiscrap, an artist-led group which campaigns against cuts to cultural provision in the borough.

Art Trail organisers Cris Thompson and Laura Kerry said: "We still have not had a full explanation directly from Waltham Forest Council.

"We have never set out to politicise the Art Trail but find we have to support the Antiscrap campaign that creatively responds to a very sorry situation for the arts in our borough.

"The Art Trail came about because we wanted to see more art in our area and we were frustrated by the lack of suitable venues. Instead of whinging about the council we created the Art Trail, which has grown in strength and number each year."

Many of the Art Trail's exhibitions will be held at council-run spaces such as the Vestry House Museum and the Waltham Forest Theatre. These will still be going ahead as planned, albeit unpublicised at the host venue.

Antiscrap are also behind an Art Trail exhibition called "Inspired." The show, at the Wood Street Indoor Market, features both political and non-political pieces by Walthamstow artists inspired by the life and work of William Morris.

Councillor Geraldine Reardon, cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, said: I would like to make it absolutely clear that Waltham Forest Council supports without question the E17 Art Trail. It is precisely the sort of activity we want to encourage in the borough.

"Nobody in the Council is in favour of censorship of the arts and the Waltham Forest Arts Council is free to distribute the leaflets to its members and the public in the best way it sees fit.

"An item on the leaflet unfairly and inaccurately attacks the council and as such we feel we cannot permit these leaflets to be distributed through the council's premises.

"The council has given financial support to the E17 Art Trail as part of the 1 Community' campaign.

"Both Clyde Loakes and I wish the E17 Art Trail continued success this year and in the future."

ANTISCRAP - whose name is a reference to Antiscrape, William Morris' society for the preservation of ancient buildings - formed in response to funding cuts to the council's museums and galleries service.

Co-founder Roger Huddle, a writer and graphic artist, says the Trail of Destruction is intended to highlight a wider decline in local cultural life. The walk takes in defunct adult education centres and the derelict former EMD cinema along with council-owned facilities such as libraries, theatres and museums.

He said: "It's not a protest march. It's critical and questioning, but it doesn't attack the council.

"It is completely silly and pernicious of the council not to handle the trail map. This is one event out of 97 - but the whole trail has lost their support because we're critical.

"Scratch a neoliberal and you find a Stalinist underneath."

Artist, writer and sociologist Dr Sigi Dlabal said: "There's a group of artists expressing opinions and they get scared.

"The Art Trail is a really wonderful thing, it's one of the few things actually happening in Walthamstow.

"This poses problems for all artists involved. Some are political, some are not.

"But art should never be censored unless it is very offensive."