A COUPLE returning to their pub after a holiday were flabbergasted to find cheeky customers had indulged in a ‘spot’ of exterior design – painting the walls entirely purple and pink.

Stephen and Denise Potter, who run the Potters Arms on Brooke Street, Chorley, discovered the psychedelic makeover, when they came back from a two-week break in the Caribbean.

The colourful stunt was a good-natured practical joke from a number of a regulars, aided and abetted by the couple’s daughter Zoe, 27, who was running the local in their absence.

Stephen said: “When the car tuned the corner, I saw the pub and swore loudly.

"Denise hadn’t seen it and was telling me off for my language.

"When she noticed her jaw dropped and she burst out laughing.

“The entire front of the pub was purple with several pink spots.

"I believe five or six of our customers were involved but my ‘investigations’ are still continuing.”

Stephen believes the conspirators also managed to dupe Zoe into helping.

“They told her it was ‘washable’ paint, which she thought meant it would rinse off,” he said.

“It was only when they had her applying one of the pink circles that she realised it was heavy duty paint.”

The ‘purple reign’ at The Potters will not be a permanent feature, but will stay for the next few weeks.

“Around 30 of us from the pub are doing a sponsored walk around Healey Nab on August 21 for St Catherine’s Hospice,” said Stephen.

“We’ll keep it like it is until then but then I’m going to march the culprits outside with the whitewash.”