A picture of a Spanish dancer that graces the wall of Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth and the famous Athena poster of a tennis player scratching her bottom are two of the images in a wacky new art show in Bradford.

Organisers of the event say the show - expected to attract national interest - is the first of its kind.

It features popular prints blasted by critics as "arguably the most unpleasant works of art" ever produced - but which sold in their thousands.

Curators at Bradford's Cartwright Hall Museum scoured car boot sales and specialist shops dealing in retro collectibles to amass 1960s and 1970s popular prints.

But some of the classic designs - including the Chinese Girl, Crying Boy and puppy (pictured) have eluded them and they hope Telegraph & Argus readers might lend them prints for the art show.

Pert Pets and Sultry Sirens is the name of the exhibition which runs at Cartwright Hall from June 30 to August 26.

Christine Hopper, from the museum, said: "There's a 70s revival going on and a lot of interest in the retro look for home decoration, and our exhibition fits in with that," she said.

She added the exhibition did not intend to poke fun at people who collected the prints, which were typically sold in stores such as Boots in the 1960s and 1970s. The prints were hugely popular, selling for around 12 shillings and sixpence - 62 and a half pence.

But the images were controversial and one of the most famous ones - the Chinese Girl or 'Green Lady' (pictured) by Vladimir Tretchikoff - was described by one critic as "arguably the most unpleasant work of art" ever produced.

"As far as I know this is the first exhibition which looks at this particular genre," Christine Hopper said. "It's a serious look at what people have put on their walls over the last few years. It looks at social history and changing style and is very pertinent now because of style programmes on television like Changing Rooms."

l If you have a similar print dating from the 1960s or 1970s in good condition and are willing to donate or lend it to the Museum, contact Christine Hopper on (01274) 751212.

e-mail: sarah.walsh

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk