THE Greenock family at the centre of a dispute with planning beaks about the bright yellow colour of their house say they are ‘overwhelmed’ by the support they have received from the public.

Over 2,000 people have now signed an online petition supporting the Varese family after Inverclyde Council officials refused them retrospective permission to keep the lemon zest colour scheme of the property on the Esplanade, as it is not in keeping with the west end conservation area.

A separate ‘save the yellow house’ Facebook page has attracted over 1,100 members.

Edoardo Varese, who lives at the property with his dad Adriano, mum Edilia and brother Stefano, is keen to thank everyone who has pledged their support.

The 43-year-old Amazon worker told the Tele: “We want to thank everyone in Inverclyde who has shown their support for us.

“The fact of the matter is that there is a bright blue house in the conservation area, so if they’re allowed to have their house painted like that then why aren’t we?

“That’s what I’m angry about.

“The council should be embarrassed by their decision to refuse us permission to keep our house yellow when 99 per cent of the public are in favour of it.

“My family have paid tens of thousands of pounds in council tax over the years, so for the council to not allow us to paint our house is disgraceful.” Edoardo, who spoke to the Tele while clutching a letter of support from a neighbour, says his family will do everything they can to overturn the decision.

He said: “We will go as far as it takes.

“We’re hoping that the council will realise what they have done is wrong and will look at their decision again.

“If not then we will contact our MP, the secretary of state for Scotland, Alistair Carmichael, and the Prime Minister David Cameron.

“We’re not giving up.” The family, who are now consulting a solicitor, were also keen to thank Calum Williams and Brian McClure who launched the internet campaign.

The Vareses spent £3,000 painting their house yellow but council chiefs say it is ‘an intrusive feature’ and contrary to both the local development plan and Historic Scotland guidance.