A DJ has been forced to re-edit his hit music video after priests complained that it contained images of a partially nude couple kissing on the altar of their Catholic church.

Clergy from the Good Shepherd church in south Belfast complained after learning of the scenes in DJ Wilkinson's video for Half Light, which was shot at various locations around the city.

The song reached 25 in the UK music charts this month. The images shot in the church have now been edited out.

"The behaviour in the video was a desecration of the church and caused most grievous distress to the parish priest," the church said in a statement.

The Down and Connor diocese, which includes churches and parishes in Belfast, added: "If viewed by the parishioners it would cause severe hurt and distress to the wider parish community.

"For these reasons, to protect the church and its parishioners, the diocese of Down and Connor immediately brought these concerns to the attention of the distributors and creators of the material."

The diocese said it had not granted permission for a scene of that nature to be filmed in the church.

"No permission was either sought or granted to film the interior of the parish church within the context of any conduct or activities that were not relating to prayer or homage and in accordance with the sanctity of the church," it said.