"The Church says Sony did not ask for permission to use the cathedral and was wrong to choose Manchester - a city plagued by gun violence which has left tens of youngsters dead.

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, said: "It is well known that Manchester has a gun crime problem.

"For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have gun battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irrespon..."