A community mural aimed at giving struggling traders a voice has mysteriously disappeared from a wall in Muswell Hill.

Portraits of traders were painted on the corner of Avenue Mews and Princes Avenue just weeks ago as part of an art project to highlight the difficulties faced by independent traders in tough financial times.

But the characterful photographs vanished from the wall yesterday morning – leaving members of the community calling for answers.

The disappearance comes just weeks after a treasured Banksy mural was removed from the wall of a Poundland shop near Turnpike Lane Tube station before resurfacing on an American auction site.

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone wrote a letter to Haringey Borough Council today to see if any light can be shed on the missing art.

The Liberal Democrat politician said: “Just a few weeks ago I met the artist and saw the portraits of local traders. They were wonderful and it is so sad that they have been lost.

“First, our Turnpike Lane Banksy mysteriously disappeared, and now these wonderful portraits have been washed away.”

She claims “more needs to be done” to protect high-quality public art, and said it can encourage visitors, which helps businesses.

The MP, who was alerted to the disappearance on social networking site Twitter, said the owners of the building did not remove the art.

Traders involved in the Inside Out art project include the staff from Muswell Hill’s oldest independent shop W. Martyn, which has been on the high street for more than 100 years.

Other businesses represented include Cheeses, Tomfoolery, Frocks Away, Charlotte Murray, Cha Cha Cha Vintage, Art for Arts Sake, Rosie Brown Boutique, Barrons Salon, The Alexandra Pub and UFIT.

The Haringey Independent is waiting for a comment from the council.