MEDITERRANEAN influences have infiltrated Preston.

So says councillor Albert Richardson who is baffled by the latest trend for painting some of the town's pubs in bright colours.

In the past few months several pubs close to the University of Central Lancashire have joined the yellow Adelphi pub in ditching their traditional image and opting for gaudy colours such as purple, green and blue.

The trend has proved a bit too much for the town's traditionalists, who include Coun Richardson.

Tee-total Coun Richardson said: "What are they trying to do? Create the Costa Del Uni? There must be a real climate difference in that area if the pub chains think they can recreate the Med here.

"It certainly does nothing for the town's appearance. I realise some areas are a bit drab but painting them these colours is taking it a bit too far.

"I suppose they are doing it to attract the students and fill their places. Perhaps we should start painting our churches bright pink and get people in there as well.

"If it carries on like this the university area is going to look like a child's painting gone wrong."

In the past few weeks three pubs have decked themselves out in the bright colours, including the Ship in Fylde Road and Pip's in Corporation Street.

Unfortunately for the traditionalists, there is little the council can do. Unless a building falls within a conservation area, such as Winckley Square, the council has little control over the appearance of a building.

Coun Richardson will be representing Preston Borough Council at a forthcoming planning inquiry after the council refused permission for a new Rat and Parrot pub in the new St George's Centre. Councillors objected to the scheme because it was in the centre's most prominent new unit.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.