City council officials initially claimed no mistake had been made and the "generic skyline [was] intended to symbolise an urban area".

But a spokesman has now admitted the authority was at fault.

"Birmingham is immensely proud of its recycling record and this leaflet has helped to get the recycling message across to thousands of our enthusiastic citizens over the last 15 months," he said.

"We accept that the wrong photo was used, but the text and detail contained in the leaflet is wholly correct which is the most important message."

He said it had received only one complaint about the error and there were no plans to reprint the leaflet.

The mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, Larry P Langford, said he took the mistake as a compliment.

He said: "People have a tendency, as you well know, to get all bent out of shape over stuff.

"Life is too short. I thought it was flattering. And please continue to use the skyline - it doesn't bother me."

In the late '80s as a tourist I was on a public bus from London to Birmingham. We were caught in very heavy traffic and would be several hours late in our arrival, making my intended destination impossible to work out. My seatmate was a Birmingham native, so I asked her what I might do in the city to save the day from being a total loss. Her comment was that I should get on the next return to London. She felt there wasn't anything worthwhile in Birmingham to make the effort for. I did just that.