A council has withdrawn CDs from its libraries of artists who are alleged to have penned homophobic lyrics.

The decision comes after it emerged that albums stocked in Brighton and Hove included work by Buju Banton, who recorded a song called Boom Bye Bye which advocates the shooting of gay men.

An LP by rapper Eminem, which includes homophobic lyrics, has also been taken off the shelves.

The moves follows a ruling by Brighton and Hove City Council to tackle so called "murder music."

Concorde 2 in Madeira Drive, Brighton, cancelled a Buju Banton gig last year at the 11th hour after the council threatened to withdraw its licence.

In a decision last week the council voted through new rules which mean performances of music which encourages violence against minorities could see a pub or club's licence reviewed or even suspended.

The city council has insisted that this is not a ban on any music but the changes were brought in to prevent artists like Buju Banton performing in Brighton and Hove.

After contact from a regular library user, The Argus queried why the album by "Buju Banton and friends", which does not include the notorious lyrics, and Eminem were on loan at the library.

Dave Jones, of Springfield Road, Brighton, who spotted the CDs said: "My sympathy with Brighton and Hove council's attempt to stop murder music is outweighed by my fear of censorship.

"Will the council destroy their CDs? I hope not.

"Performers like Buju Banton should be warned before a gig that if they advocate murder of gay men they will be arrested and jailed. It is already a crime.

"Britain's censors have such a terrible record when it comes to permitting lesbian or gay sexual freedom that I can never trust them."

Four CDs of Eminem's song Criminal were available from the Jubilee Library and Hove Library until yesterday.

Banton is banned from singing the homophobic lyrics in this country but gay campaigners claim he performed it abroad as recently as 2005. The singer has since signed a commitment to ban hatred and prejudice from his music.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "A small section in the council's new licensing policy is aimed at preventing crime and antisocial behaviour in licensed premises.

"There is no ban or censorship on any particular artist or song and this section of the policy is not there to prevent people being offended - it's sole purpose is to prevent crime and disorder.

"This is a separate issue to the library service, which also does not aim to censor material which is legally available to the public.

"The library service sets out to maintain a balanced stock of material, offering a wide range of materials reflecting a broad spectrum of views and opinions.

"The Eminem Marshall Mathers LP was released over seven years ago, the lyrics are controversial and the CD is labelled with an explicit content warning.

"However, in the light of the concerns raised by Mr Jones the library service will temporarily withdraw this CD and one by Buju Banton, pending further consideration."