A COLOURFUL design for a public arts scheme has been branded a traffic hazard by a councillor.

The planned mural for a wall in Rishton's high street was criticised at a Hyndburn Council meeting.

Pupils at Norden High School came up with the design for the street sculpture with the help of Clayton-le-Moors based Raku Works.

Two designs were presented to the development services meeting and councillors have agreed to adopt a "tree of life" style sculpture.

The latest design will replace a controversial mural depicting leaping reindeers which was ditched by councillors last year.

Coun Harold Tootle said: "I think the whole concept of this scheme is a terrific idea but in my opinion the design is too complicated.

"Motorists driving into Rishton will want to take a second look at the design because it is so complicated.

"It is not a good idea to have a bright design on a wall just before you drive into a bad bend and it could cause accidents."

But Coun Bill Goldsmith said: "It is fair to say that in every road in Britain there is an advertising hoarding.

"They are designed to attract motorists attention but they don't cause accidents.

"When Oswaldtwistle's street art was first put in place there was lots of criticism and knocks.

"Some of the people of Oswaldtwistle were critical and petty but that has settled down now.

"All the criticism settled down and people came to accept the art for what it is."

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