A place known as the 'Little White Town' has agreed to change its welcome signs following complaints that it was racist.

For more than 150 years Bideford has been known by the tagline due to the large number of white buildings that were recorded in a famous 1855 book about the area.

But in recent years, several residents suggested that its connotations carry a racist undertone and demanded it be scrapped from all signs around the north Devon town.

Bideford, known as the 'Little White Town', in north Devon has agreed to change its welcome signs following complaints that it was racist

Local councillor Dermot McGeough tabled a motion calling for change at a recent council meeting

The town has been split on the issue with one survey revealing 69 per cent were in favour of keeping it while 31 per cent thought it should change.

Local councillor Dermot McGeough tabled a motion calling for change at a recent council meeting.

The motion read: 'Following a number of complaints from parishioners, I propose that the words "Little White Town" are removed from all signs within the town and at the town entrances.'

For more than 150 years Bideford has been known by the tagline due to the large number of white buildings that were recorded in a famous 1855 book about the area

Some members of Bideford Town Council described it as 'political correctness gone mad' but after a lively discussion it was agreed to change the signposts to include the author's name so its meaning was taken in context.

Approval was given to changing the wording to 'Charles Kingsley's 'Little White Town' (1855)'. In his book the author, who lived in Bideford, described it as a town of white houses.

Local councillor Dermot McGeough tabled a motion calling for the change at a recent council meeting

Writing about the debate in a local newspaper column, councillor Peter Christie said: 'The town council discussed an unusual motion last week.

'Councillor Dermot McGeough wanted to remove the words 'Little White Town' from the road signs at the entrances to the town following "a number of complaints".

'Needless to say this generated a lot of debate with Doug Bushby speaking for many when he reckoned it was "political correctness gone mad" and Trevor Johns saying many Bidefordians he talked to were horrified at this suggestion.

'Peter Lawrence didn't want to cause any offence but did wonder where this might lead asking if "Bideford Black" paint should be renamed "Bideford Slightly Dark"?

'Kay Corffe wanted to respect peoples' feelings and thus supported Joel Herron's suggestion to change the wording to "Charles Kingsley's 'Little White Town' (1855)" which would put the phrase into context.

The town has been split on the issue with one survey revealing 69 per cent were in favour of keeping it while 31 per cent thought it should change

Back in 2008 the town council discussed changing local signs to reflect the town's Elizabethan maritime history

'Councillor McGeough agreed to this change and when it came to the vote this was the way the council went.'

Councillor Peter Christie said the issue was brought up as some people had wrongly taken the signs to be a racist comment

Mr Christie later added that the issue was brought up as some people had wrongly taken the signs to be a racist comment.

He added: 'It has come up before but people said it was silly. It’s a historic thing not a racist thing. I’ve never had any complaints about it and neither had any of the other councillors.'

Several local residents were left bemused with the decision.

Margaret Bending wrote: 'I suggest if people don't like the name that much just move. Just what sort of mentality have these people got.'

While Philip Parker added: 'What about places like Blackpool and White Haven?'

It's not the first time attempts have been made to change the 'Little White Town' tag.

Back in 2008 the town council discussed changing local signs to reflect the town's Elizabethan maritime history.

The issue caused protests at the meeting but councillors eventually voted to keep the Little White Town name on road signs on the approaches to the town.