A YORK pub's vivid green, red and black paintwork has got it into trouble with planners.

When the former Falcon pub in Micklegate was refurbished and renamed Rumours, it was also given a snazzy new image to attract younger drinkers.

And that included painting the exterior bright green, red and black - the brand colours for Woodpecker Cider.

But now City of York Council has written to the licensees, warning that the colours are out of character for what is a Grade II listed building in a conservation area, and should not have been painted without listed building consent.

The licensees have been asked to submit a retrospective application for permission, with the possibility of enforcement action to tone down the colours if they are refused consent or fail to apply.

At the same time, planners - who have launched a crackdown against people across York who breach planning controls - have also asked for the model of a falcon which was removed from the wall outside the pub to be replaced.

Council spokesman Jonathan Carr said it was likely officers would recommend refusal for such colours. More acceptable colours would include Royal blue, dark blue and burgundy.

A spokesman for the pub said the colours were intended to help draw in drinkers from the 18-plus age group.

He said that whether or not they were inappropriate was a matter of taste. "They have certainly been a talking point."

He also claimed that the council had been approached beforehand to see if permission was needed to repaint the pub and an officer had said it was not necessary. But Mr Carr said that would only apply to repainting in existing colours.

The pub spokesman added that the falcon had been removed from its bracket because it was in a dangerous condition.

Updated: 11:42 Tuesday, October 01, 2002