SAVE Nemo! That was the plea today from the owners of a York chip shop, who have been ordered to take down their fish sign.

City of York Council planning chiefs say the illuminated fish - dubbed Nemo after the character in the recent Disney aquatic adventure film breaches regulations.

Niko Kadis, whose family has run the business in Front Street, Acomb, for 21 years, said they had been told must take the sign down or face a £1,000 fine.

He has launched a petition in an effort to save Chip 'N' Things' Nemo, asking customers: "Do you find this fish offensive?"

"You look down the street and there are signs representing all the other shops," said Mr Kadis, who erected the fish sign several months ago after the previous one was damaged by a delivery van.

"We are a chip shop so obviously have a fish.

"It defies belief what the council is doing.

"They are just trying to recoup the losses from everything they've been making a cock-up of in the city."

Mr Kadis said they could not understand the decision, as their previous sign was just as big and was deemed acceptable by the authorities. The council say this is a conservation area, but they have recently built seven flats," said Mr Kadis.

"It seems to be one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us. We just can't figure out the logic behind it - are they offended by fish?

"Our customers are as mystified as us."

Mr Kadis's mother, Hazel, 59, of Stockton Lane, saidd: "It's a ridiculous decision. The council has got nothing better to do.

"The fish blends in with the street."

A City of York Council's spokeswoman, said: "A planning application for an internally illuminated projecting sign was refused on February 7.

"An enforcement officer wrote to the applicants on 27 March because the sign was still in place.

"They have 21 days from the date of the letter to remove it, though they can appeal against the planning decision."

Updated: 10:12 Monday, April 03, 2006