BEIJING—A promotional video for London's cultural heritage flashed an image of serial killer Myra Hindley at a celebration of the handover of the Olympics last night in Beijing, the Times (London) reports. The controversial painting by artist Michael Harvey is part of a six-minute film by Visit London, the city's tourism promotion agency.

A three-minute segment of the video was shown on loop at last night's invite-only party at London House, which was attended by Prime Minster Gordon Brown, London mayor Boris Johnson, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, and chairman of London 2012 Sebastian Coe. Millions of viewers tuning in to the televised party saw the image, and it was picked out by BBC technicians.

"We recognize it is of course highly offensive to a lot of people," said a spokesman for the mayor. "The mayor is deeply disturbed and has made it clear that the film should not be shown in London House again."

Hindley and her lover Ian Brady were convicted for life in 1966 for the torture and murder of four children. The episodes became known as the "Moors Murders."

Harvey's controversial painting, rising 11 by 9 feet, is made from children's handprints. It caused an uproar when it was first shown in the exhibition "Sensation" at the Royal Academy in 1997: The picture was vandalized while on display, and four members of the academy resigned in protest.

In the promotional video, the camera pans through an art gallery, capturing Harvey's portrait briefly. Visit London issued a statement about the incident, saying, "The video is not for general public use and has been used many times over the last few years to show to the tourism trade. There has never been a complaint made about the video up until this point. However, if any offense has been caused, we will withdraw it from use with immediate effect."

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat Olympics spokesman, commented: "British art definitely represents some of the 'best of the British,' but of all the many masterpieces that could have been used this was the most regrettable and least inspired choice."