A BRIGHTLY decorated engine in a Dorchester park is to stay a rainbow of colours despite a call to turn it to its original green hue.

Michael Barrington, of Warmwell, had written to Dorchester Town Council to ask them to consider repainting the steam roller in the King's Road play area green as it would have been originally.

He said the popular piece of equipment, which was donated to the town council by Eddison, as a memento of their long association with the town, bore no resemblance to how it would have been originally and was disrespectful to the memory of the historic company, But despite his call members of the town council's recreational panel last night agreed that the engine should stay as it is.

Coun Stella Jones said: "The children love the colours of that steam roller. I know it used to be green but the children love it as it is.

"I suggest we put a notice on saying why we have got it and the history of the company in Dorchester."

Coun Les Phillips said he would have liked to have seen it returned to green but agreed that if children liked it, it should remain as it is complete with a notice.

He said: "If Stella says that the children like it we should write to Mr Barrington explaining the situation and to tell him that we are proposing to put a notice on the site explaining the history of the steam roller."