FAST food shop owner Mr Joe Asma stepped back with pride to admire the finishing touches being applied to his pink shop front in Ripon.

But being in the pink has run him into hot water with planners, who have told him to remove the pink Italian-style marble look in a conservation area or face possible legal action.

Mr Asma, owner of the Crispy Fried Chicken shop in North Street, has decided to fight Harrogate planning officers, and has engaged professional advice to force the issue to appeal.

He said he had received letters of support from customers and added: "I'm not trying to make it look like something from a Hollywood movie. It's not shocking pink, just a light pinky colour. I thought the street needed livening up a bit, but it is not outrageous and there's no flashing lights."

Mr Asma said he merely wanted to give the street a lift because some shops had closed down. But planners say the pink look should be removed; two applications to keep the present frontage have been turned down.

Mr Asma said he had been presented with an enforcement notice, but was determined to keep the marble-effect cladding, claiming he had been singled out for action.

A planning department spokesman said North Street was in a conservation area and the council tried to ensure its character was maintained.