The city council said the colour scheme was too garish

The 500-year-old Bell Inn on Angel Row has picked up a National Conservation Award.

Judges praised the work of the architects and the "cheery treatment of the frontage".

Last summer the city council told owners Hardy and Hansons they could be forced to repaint the pub.

'Egg on their faces'

But Richard Studeny from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) pointed out the pub had actually been the same controversial colour in the past.

He said: "It's quite ironic, because that colour yellow was actually used in the eighteenth (and) early nineteenth century.

"The people who were moaning about it will really have egg on their faces - excuse the pun - when they see it's won this award."

But Cllr Alan Clarke said: "Obviously they didn't have those kind of pigments in that era.

"So I think a more toned-down yellow would be in keeping with what they originally had.

"The whole thing is going to a hearing in August and I think it should be resolved.

"If we can't reach a compromise before then I'm sure the whole thing will be resolved at that point."