GARGY BARGY

Builder installs an effigy of councillor over planning row

- JOSIE ADNITT and JOHN BAKER

A BITTER builder has put a giant stone gargoyle of a council leader on his roof as a heated planning row turns ugly.

Michael Thomas, 71, was furious when his plan to convert an old pizza takeaway into a three-storey, seven-bedroom property for a residential house share was rejected.

He had already started work on it without permission, forcing town council leader Stewart Palmen to put an enforcement order in place.

Mr Thomas has now taken his revenge by erecting the stone sculpture of Cllr Palmen sticking out his tongue.

But the 61-year-old said he is flattered by the effigy, and struck the pose himself for a photo.