IRATE villagers are preparing to go back into action with their brushes 12 years after painting the local lighthouse in the colours of TV character Mr Blobby.

Campaigners in Port Appin, Argyll and Bute, have said the drastic action may be taken in protest at Scottish Water's plans to build a 1000 feet sewage outfall pipe along the shoreline.

In 2001 they painted Sgeir Bhuidhe lighthouse pink with yellow spots after the Northern Lighthouse Board wanted to modernise it, which they said would have threatened the view.

Protest letters have been dispatched to Scottish Water and petitions are being gathered as residents and businesses unite to fight the latest perceived threat to their tourist-based economy.

Lifelong resident Dr Iain McNicol said: "I wouldn't be surprised if paintbrushes came out again. Mr Blobby has sort of become a bit of a Port Appin trademark and feeling is running higher in the village about this pipe than it was about the lighthouse.

"People know some of the conspirators but what happens in Appin stays in Appin. The Appin murder of 1752 is still a family secret."