A COUPLE who painted their 300-year-old shop-front pink and indigo have been ordered to replace it with more appropriate shades.

But Peter and Anne Lown, who gave the three-storey shop the bright facelift to match the colour of their carrier bags, say they will appeal against the decision.

They were told their retrospective planning application had been refused as the colour was deemed detrimental to the townscape.

The couple, who started Castle Cards, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, 12 years ago, were backed by a 1,500 name petition.

As reported in The Northern Echo in November, Mr and Mrs Lown were forced to apply for retrospective permission after receiving a letter from the council saying that unauthorised works to the listed building, in Market Place, was a criminal offence.

Planning officer David Hand said: "It all comes down to whether the colours are acceptable on a listed building.

"This one is part of a terrace in the centre of Barnard Castle and has to be looked at in relation to the townscape."

Mrs Lown said: "We have received a lot of favourable comments about the scheme."

At the time, her husband told The Northern Echo: "Our carrier bags are pink, so we decided to have the front wall painted pastel pink to match, with indigo on the borders of the windows. We felt the result was excellent."

The shop front has in the past been painted shades of blue, mushroom and cream.