Portsmouth in Tower u-turn

Portsmouth fans are no longer seeing red after a plan to repaint a prominent city landmark in Southampton colours was scrapped.

The Spinnaker Tower was due to receive the makeover as part of a B#3.5million sponsorship deal between Portsmouth City Council and Emirates. But the decision to paint it red and white - the colours of Portsmouth's arch rivals from along the south coast - provoked a backlash among Pompey fans, with an online petition receiving almost 10,000 signatures. And in a statement on the Portsmouth City Council website, council leader Donna Jones said: "I am pleased to advise that after working with Emirates over the weekend, and having spoken to Mark Catlin, chief executive of Portsmouth FC, and other key stakeholders, we are working up a new design for the tower. "The design will reflect the city's heritage." Pompey supporter Alex Judd, who set up the petition, said: "The council have listened are now working on a new design for the Spinnaker Tower branding. "In just under a weekend, we've made our voices heard and stopped the shambles of the red and white."