NEARLY 900 people have backed the owners of a Malmesbury childcare nursery which is fighting to keep a much-loved mural of two giant koala bears on their premises.

Steve Paginton and Karen Phipps say they have been overwhelmed by the huge outpouring of public support after they were told by a civic enforcement officer that the cuddly koalas constituted an advertisement.

The stunned pair launched a petition after they were ordered to apply for retrospective permission to install the 25 by 30ft mural at the K&S Childcare in Pool Gastons Road.

Mr Paginton said that over the past week-and-a-half more than 800 people had signed an on-line petition while around 70 others had gone out of their way to pop in to sign the paper equivalent.

He said: “The support we have had from the general public has been overwhelming.

"We knew a lot of people like our mural because they have been telling us so ever since it was painted. But we had no idea exactly how popular it is until all of this happened.”

The striking image of the hugging bears was created in August by well-known local artist Luke Hollingworth after the nursery owners invited him to fill the façade of their premises with something colourful and interesting that the children would love.

They were shocked two weeks ago when they received a notice from Wiltshire Council saying it was an advertisement, and that they needed consent to install it.

Mr Paginton said: “This is absolutely not an advertisement. It’s a work of art. There is no writing on it, contact details or anything like that.”

The couple were this week waiting for a council official to arrive to inspect the koalas which have now become an endangered species following what is understood to have been a complaint from one person.

They aim to submit the petition so that councillors can make a decision on the issue. However, they are in a quandary over whether to apply for permission for an advertisement because they ae adamant that it is not one.

Spray-can artist Mr Hollingworth was also staggered at what he described as the “crazy” attitude of the council enforcement officer.

The experienced street artist, widely known in the region as Syd, said: “Saying this is an advertisement for the nursery is absolutely ridiculous.”

Wiltshire Council, however, insist that the koalas constitute an advertisement and that consent for an advertisement is now required. If not, it will have to be removed, they say.