A COMEDIAN has had residents scratching their heads in disbelief with a series of spoof planning notices.

Prankster Phil Lucas took to the streets of Brighton and Hove to post the wacky planning posters proposing everything from a 40 metre high otter’s head off Brighton beach, to a museum of taxidermy to replace Jamie Oliver’s former café in Western Road.

The 44-year-old, who described it as “a bit of harmless fun” then stuck around to watch peoples’ reactions.

He said: “People tend to stare at them for a bit, look around and then walk off looking confused.

“I know it’s silly but it’s good fun and hopefully raises a smile.”

The Hove comedian has posted similar planning notices before – only to get in trouble with Brighton and Hove City Council for making them too similar to their own.

This time round he made a series of subtle changes to avoid any repeat of the trouble.

As well as a new council logo featuring a giant sand castle and seagull, all were signed off by “council head of service” BBC celebrity chef Lorraine Pascale and the applicants were all newsreaders.

Among the notices was one tied to a post in Hove which read: “I wish to purchase the land by the floral clock in Palmeira Square, and, when the fateful day comes, construct a mausoleum there to entomb Bruce Forsyth”.

Elsewhere outside Churchill Square there was a plan to knock it down and “replace it with an exact replica of Croydon town centre.”

In Brunswick Square, residents were informed of plans to “demolish” all the housing to make way for a “single mansion where Chris Moyles can live in peace.”

Meanwhile in Whitehawk, locals were warned the neighbourhood was to be turned into “London’s 4th airport.”

The comedian’s next challenge is to take pictures of various Brighton and Hove post-war buildings and Photoshop them so they appear to be from Communist Russia. He added: “It’s all very silly but it keeps me off the streets.”

For more visit www.phillucas.com or follow him on Twitter at @PhilLucas.