A PUB is to revert to its original name because of the foot and mouth crisis.

When businessmen Chris Sullivan and Steve Bolton took over the historic Bull and Butcher they changed the name to the controversial Slaughtered Lamb.

Local historian Ken Spencer branded the name as "horrible, naff and repulsive" and warned the owners that many pubs in Burnley had done the same thing and had to revert to their original name in the end.

But today Ken said: "I have written to the landlord and the agents to say I am very pleased and I thing the name change will bring them a lot of goodwill in the district."

The name, complete with macabre inn sign depicting the grim reaper with a baby lamb and 'food to die for' slogans was inspired by the pub in the cult 1982 film American Werewolf in London.

But the deepening crisis in the local farming community has prompted the owners to do a u-turn on the name.

Chris said: "There is a very fine line between the type of adult humour we have been using and bad taste.

"Out of respect for the deepening crisis for the areas farming community and an acknowledgement that our theme is simply not funny now, we will be changing the name back to the original name of The Bull and Butcher in time for Easter."

The pub will continue to operate as at present and the management and staff are looking forward to the busy Easter period and the launch of the newly refurbished function suite.