An owner who turned his flat into a shrine to his five dogs is being ordered to tear the tribute down.

Vincent Hughes-Burton, of Tisbury Road, Hove, started constructing the tribute to his West Highland terriers Muffin, Mopsy, Matisse, Muddles and Muttley six months ago.

Passers-by loved the colourful homage and even gave £300 to animal charities to show their appreciation.

But the neighbours were not so amused and some complained to the council.

Mr Hughes-Burton said: "Our Westie display is a local landmark.

It all looks very nice in our opinion but the planning officer said it looked tacky.

"People are always stopping and taking pictures. They are very photogenic dogs and they're terribly upset about the whole thing."

The outside of the basement flat he shares with his partner Tristan Farnworth has been transformed into a homage to all things Westie.

Mr Hughes-Burton's tribute features a Westie weather vane, a giant poster of his beloved pets on the outside wall and five terracotta plaques bearing the pooches' names.

There is also a flatscreen computer running images of his "West Hove Terrors", an LCD message board carrying news about the dogs and five Westie "wriggly bottoms"

attached to the wall.

But council officials have told Mr Hughes-Burton his display must be taken down.

They said it falls foul of local planning rules as Mr Hughes- Burton and Mr Farnworth have used it to raise money for charities, making it an advert.

Mr Hughes-Burton has compromised by removing large letters on the side of the building bearing the names of the dogs and details of how to donate to the charity.

He said: "I think it is a huge waste of public money for Brighton and Hove City Council to take us to court on the ridiculous pretext of some obscure advertisement regulations that we have contravened.

"Apparently it is perfectly acceptable to neglect your property so that it looks grubby or derelict but if you want to add a bit of colour to an otherwise drab suburban street, then you are threatened with court proceedings."

Although 80 people have signed a petition for the shrine to stay, residents' pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Lesley Baker, secretary of the Tisbury Road residents' association, said: "Lots of people signed the petition but the council has just gone ahead.

"The display is harmless and adds character to the street."

A council spokeswoman suggested that Mr Hughes-Burton "toned it down a bit".

She said: "He should have applied to the council for consent. It's an unlicensed advertisement for Mr Hughes- Burton's terrier charity."