Parish councillors have thrown their support behind a pub landlord as he fights to keep a giant bull mural from the side of his 400-year-old inn.

Martin Peel paid a local artist £1,200 to have the 8ft mural emblazoned on the side of The Bull's Head in Wootton Wawen, but has since been told by Stratford-on-Avon District Council to remove it.

Mr Peel has submitted planning applications in a bid to keep the artwork, with Wootton Wawen Parish Council adding in a note of support to the work.

"The Bulls Head as a pub/restaurant needs all the support it can get, this mural helps identify the buildings as 'The Bull Inn'," the council's comment said. 

"This mural is the work of a very talented local artist. 

"It acts as a very important part of the marketing of this business intended to draw people in and to help maintain a very important building with the village as a viable ongoing business concern. 

"The parish council support[s] this application."

Martin Peel has submitted two planning applications to save 'Eddie' the bull (image via SWNS)

The mural was first completed in April 2024, before district council officers launched the enforcement appeal in the summer.

In the planning application to keep the bull - known locally as 'Eddie' - it said: "The bull depicted in the mural is a British breed of cattle originating from Herefordshire in the West Midlands and not only does it reflect the name of the pub, it would have also been a regular site in nearby fields.

"The applicant is the current landlord of the Bull's Head Inn and since taking over day to day operations of the pub, he has worked to restore the building in attempt to create a vibrant and welcoming community facility to be enjoyed by locals and visitors to Wootton Wawen.

"The applicant was not aware that consent would be required for the mural hence the retrospective nature of this application.

"Nonetheless, the mural was created with care and respect for the building with the applicant choosing a traditional sign writer / mural painter, as he did not want to use standard computer cut plastics or printed vinyl.

"The mural captures the building's heritage and has received overwhelming support from the local community since its creation."

The artwork was finished in April 2024 and Mr Peel says it was a big hit with visitors (image via SWNS)

Having attended a parish council meeting last year, Mr Peel painted over some of the grey lettering on the 16th century pub following feedback from locals.

Mr Peel, a former aircraft mechanic, believes the council were alerted by just one villager who did not like the design.

But over 1,600 have signed a petition to support the father-of-two's battle with the council.

The painting was done by artist Phil Taylor who has been signwriting for 40 years.

See the full application here.