An appeal has been lodged after Warwick District Council refused to grant permission for a huge digital advertising board to be built opposite a grade II listed Kenilworth pub.

The council had blocked Birmingham-based firm Replyshort Ltd's plan to build a 4.7 metre by 2.4 metres advert opposite the Bear and Ragged Staff on Warwick Road.

The council said the advert would have been "highly out of place" and caused "a notable degree of visual disruption to neighbouring uses".

The council added: "No comparable examples of such signage features have been identified within the site context of this proposal."

But following the decision Resplyshort has lodged an appeal.

Having originally applied to have the advert changing every 10 seconds, the firm said it was prepared to have this reduced to every 20 seconds following comments on highways safety.

The council and the applicant will now submit reports before a planning inspector makes a final ruling on the application.

(Image by Albert Bridge via geograph.org.uk and James Smith - insert)