A shop front that was controversially painted blue in a Cornish seaside town has been repainted white after a series of complaints.

Residents in St Ives in Cornwall were furious at what was dubbed 'the Smurf blue' former camera shop on one of its main shopping streets.

They say it was totally out of keeping for a town made famous for its white-painted houses and shops that give the area a unique charm.

Some said the new owner should have stuck to magnolia and felt the much loved tourist destination was 'starting to look like Benidorm'.

READ MORE: Uproar over 'Smurf blue' building that's appeared in Cornish coastal town

Local councillors called on St Ives Town Council to take immediate action.

And now it has been repainted white - leaving just a blue strip remaining at the bottom.

The property owner was said to be new to town and wanted to put his "own creative stamp on things".

The local authority also said he did not have the required planning permission to change the colour of buildings in the conservation area.

Falmouth Packet: What the building looked like blue, last weekWhat the building looked like blue, last week (Image: Daniel Dayment/SWNS)

Louise Dwelly, clerk of St Ives Town Council said last week that discussions had taken place this week with the owner, adding: "In terms of the colour, the general public will always have preferences, but it is very difficult for policy makers to take a view on an individual colour because it’s a very subjective matter.

"The shop is within a conservation area which has additional restrictions and means that planning permission would be required which the owner hasn’t done.

"The conservation area is about celebrating and protecting the distinctive characteristics of the historic town centre. Traditionally this would have been muted tones, white lime wash, blue slates etc.

"A planning application is a chance for a debate about whether a painted house has a detrimental impact on this. Set against this of course is precedent and the fact that there are other strong colours already."

Not all residents were upset with the paint job, however, with one saying: "Honestly? First world problems. So much hate and negativity about the colour of a building.

"People need to realise there are much bigger issues to worry about than this. Get a grip people."