A row has broken out in a town in northern Spain after the image of a local businessman was used to portray the apostle St Matthias on a church ceiling.

The renovation of the 900 year old San Miguel church in Latre was completed last year, but the image of property entrepreneur Eduardo Lacasta has only recently been discovered after a letter was sent to a local radio station by an art historian. The letter signed by 'Saint Barbara' said: "Future generations have a right to preserve an authentic heritage and not a work altered by the exaggerated whims of a local resident." It went on to describe the painting as “vandalism disguised as philanthropy”.

82 year old Lacasta is said to have paid for the restoration of the church and commissioned an artist to paint the ceiling. He denied he had asked for his image to be included as the last of the 12 Apostles, saying it had been the artist's own decision.

The local Diocese of Jaca said it had been unaware of the restoration and that there were 'strict guidelines' to follow when renovating church buildings. The Bishop of Jaca is now considering whether to remove the painting.

Lacasta has apologised for not asking permission before authorising the work, but not for including his face among the Saints. He told the newspaper El Mundo “I made a mistake in not asking permission and for that I am sorry from my soul.

“I recovered a building that was ruined with the roof on the ground, and I had it restored 20 years ago. I also put in a new church bell tower, with four new automated bells.”