A FRESHLY painted Ham pub has assaulted residents’ eyes this week, as many were not keen on its acid yellow tint.

The Ham Brewery Tap on Ham Street was transformed with a coat of luminous yellow paint last week, a look that made many of the locals see red.

On Wednesday afternoon it emerged that the pub has had second thoughts on its makeover as it had gone back to its usual white.

A member of staff at the pub said the landlord was away on holiday and the colour had been a wind-up, but it was unclear whether the move had been with his approval.

Vanessa Fison, chairman of the Ham and Petersham Association, was horrified. She said: "We are all hoping that it is a practical joke. It has been painted the most horrid colour, an acid yellow and it actually has been quite poorly painted. We are just waiting to hear it was a prank, if not we will all have to do some persuading to get the pub repainted.

"We have heard rumours that the landlord is away and this is a practical joke.

Everyone around Ham is horrified at this awful colour. We will have to wait and see and hope that it is painted back."

One onlooker even commented that the people painting it were wearing dark glasses.

A member of staff at the pub who did not wish to be named said on Wednesday: "The landlord is on holiday. It was a joke but it has been put right. It was a wind up but the locals went a bit mad so it has been put right today."