DONATIONS are being sought to help give one of York’s more unusual landmarks a much-needed lick of paint.

The Bile Beans sign on Lord Mayor’s Walk has been a familiar sight for residents and visitors for decades, but its paint is now peeling off and the cost of repainting it has been estimated at £1,600.

York Civic Trust chairman Sir Ron Cooke, who is also advising City of York Council over its Reinvigorate York city-cente facelift programme, said a firm has agreed to carry out the work but cannot provide the funding itself, and it would not be appropriate for public money to be used.

He has now appealed for businesses or anybody else who can help meet the cost to come forward.

“It’s a maverick sign which makes people smile when they see it, but it has not been repainted for some time and it is definitely now in need of work,” he said.

Sir Ron said there were no problems with planning, the building’s owners had given permission for the work and a firm was ready to do it.

He said other similar ideas involved work on the coat of arms over the doorway to King’s Manor in Exhibition Square and putting back the star over the Ye Olde Starre Inne sign on Stonegate.

Anyone who believes they can help with repainting the Bile Beans sign can email mark.stead@thepress.co.uk and their details will be passed on.