YOUNG Thomas Auty is not a fan of Great Western Railway’s new train livery.

In fact he feels so strongly about it that he wrote to the managing director to complain about the “bogey green” colour and to suggest a much more colourful rainbow scheme.

After popping his missive in the post he didn’t expect to hear any more.

His mum Fiona, thinking the company had bigger things to worry about like complaints from customers about train services, agreed.

So they were both amazed when MD Mark Hopwood wrote a reply explaining diplomatically that the change was to reflect the company’s proud history and “bogey-looking green was not the look we were aiming for.”

Thomas, aged six, told the Advertiser he had been moved to write the letter because in his view the colour “looks like bogeys.”

He stated firmly: “I used to like the purple trains.”

The Malmesbury Primary School pupil was at the breakfast table with his family when the subject came up. After he voiced his dislike Fiona suggested he write a letter, so he took up his pen and his colouring pencils. He also illustrated his ideas with a drawing of a rainbow coloured train.

“He wrote it all himself and he drew the pictures,” said his proud mum. “He did make quite an effort.”

Thomas, who wants to be a train driver when he grows up, if he can’t be a rugby player, said: “I didn’t think I would get a reply but he did write back. I was surprised.

“In the letter it said that he is going to keep the idea and when he doesn’t want to use the green any more he will use the purple or the rainbow."

Fiona added: “I was quite surprised because you don’t normally expect corporations like that to have the time.”

In his diplomatic reply, Mr Hopwood said: “Dear Thomas, Thank you so much for your letter. I am sorry that you do not like our trains since we painted them.”

He explained: “The green used to be the colour of our trains back in the olden days. As we are really proud of our history we wanted our trains to look as smart as they did back then.

“However, I think painting them like rainbows is a great idea. These would make people happy and I will certainly keep this in mind if we get the chance to paint them again.”

He signed off by saying he hopes Thomas will grow to like the colour in time.