Manchester A museum has covered up Egyptian mummies to hide their nakedness after a surge of complaints from visitors. The remains of Asru, above, a chantress at the Temple of Amun in Karnak, one of Manchester Museum's most treasured antiquities, have been exhibited unwrapped since the 19th century.

For several weeks, visitors have only been able to see her, the partially wrapped male mummy of Khary, and a child mummy shrouded from head to toe under sheets.

The museum's curators say that the cover-up follows more than 100 complaints. They decided to have a period of consultation on how to display the collection. The debate on the ethics of showing human remains comes while the museum is displaying the uncovered body of Lindow Man, from the Iron Age, who died a violent death and was discovered in a Cheshire peat bog.

The cover-up has upset some Egyptologists. Bob Partridge, editor of Ancient Egypt magazine, said: “We are shocked and amazed this has been done in advance of any results from the public consultation. The mummies have always been sensitively displayed and have been educational and informative to generations of visitors.”

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010