GRAFFITI outside a nightclub in St Clement’s may have to be scrubbed off after officials said it breached regulations.

Clems nightclub painted cartoon characters and its website address outside the club.

But officials said it did not apply for planning permission for the graffiti.

The mural originally had the club’s name painted on it in large letters.

But Oxford City Council said that the letters exceeded the maximum height of 0.75m – and told them to change it.

Luis Carrera, owner of the nightclub, changed the design to feature cartoon characters. He says no more alterations are needed as the website address is smaller.

But the council is still unhappy.

A city council spokeswoman said: “We have revisited Clems and the images outside the property do require advertisement consent.

“We will be contacting the owner to this effect.”

She added that Mr Carrera would have to apply for planning permission and if he did not comply then further action would need to be taken by the city council – including either ordering him to remove the graffiti or imposing a fine.

Mr Carrera said that he had not received another letter stating that the new design still breaches the advertisement regulations.

He said: “They have not sent a letter and I do not see the problem with it. I’ve tried to speak to them but the people I need to speak to have been on holiday.”

Opinion locally seems divided. Bridget Wheatley, owner of Bridget Wheatley Contemporary Jewellery in Cowley Road, said: “The graffiti looks quite attractive and it goes with the area.

“If it’s related to the venue, then I do not see what the issue is.”

St Clement’s is classed as a conservation area by the city council.

Ward councillor Graham Jones said he has received more than 10 complaints from residents about both versions of the design.

Mr Jones said: “It’s totally inappropriate. If I owned property in a conservation area, I would have to abide by the rules.”

The mural took three days to paint. Mr Carrera said he wanted to make the place “look happier.”