IT'S the 57 metre airport tower that has become famed for being lit up at night in an array of changing colours.

The Edinburgh Airport air traffic control tower built in 2005, which has become a striking part of the capital city's skyline has regularly been bathed in certain colours to mark momentous occasions.

The tower went bright green last week in support of Hibernian in the Scottish Cup final.

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But now it has become engulfed in a row after refusing to allow it to be lit up in gold to support a children's cancer charity.

The airport has said the tower cannot turn gold for Glow Gold September, which is hoping to illuminate UK landmarks in the autumn, to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

The decision has attracted some criticism from parents including Emma Barron, who accused them of supporting football over ill children.

Her ten-year-old daughter Beau has suffered from a brain tumour for the last eight years.

She said: "A lot of people are quite upset at the decision.

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"It’s fine saying 'no' if they had stuck to their reasons, but they haven’t and went on to change it on a whim. It was just heartbreaking, especially for the kids.

"They are basically saying a football match is more important than the nation’s children."

Allison Barr, whose 15-year-old son Jak died earlier this year after suffering from an aggressive and rare form of cancer, also shared her disappointment on Facebook.

Edinburgh Airport said they have offered help to raise awareness and vital funding for the charities that the campaign supports, Head Smart, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, The Brain Tumour Charity, CLIC Sargent and be Child Cancer Aware.

An airport spokesman said: "We simply cannot accommodate them all and so to be as fair as possible we have a clear policy on the use of the tower.

"The policy we have – which is aimed at delivering fairness and understanding and giving maximum impact when we do change the colour - means unfortunately that we cannot change the colour for the Glow Gold campaign.

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"Our tower is a landmark associated with the city and we are proud to use it in way that supports the city - such as last week's recognition of Hibs' achievement.

"We wish the Glow Gold campaign every success and hope to hear back from them shortly regarding our offer of assistance.”

Edinburgh Castle, the Falkirk Wheel, and the Kelpies will all go gold for a night in September, as part of the worldwide Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Lothian Buses will use gold vehicles, and the National Galleries of Scotland will light up a statue of Queen Victoria.

The tower has previously gone green for St Patrick’s Day and Hibs’ cup final appearance three years ago. It has gone red to honour members of the armed forces for Remembrance Day.