A TATTOO shop owner said he believes the planning system is flawed after he was forced to take down a £2,500 sign.

Anatomy Tattoo opened in November in Duke Street, Princes Risborough.

Gary Johnson who runs the shop with Simon Smith, said they put up a new shop sign, unaware that they had to get planning permission.

Once they found out they applied for restrospective permission but this had been refused.

Wycombe District Council planning department told Mr Johnson the sign's size and scale has a detrimental impact upon the character and appearance of the existing building, street scene and the Princes Risborough Conservation Area.

The sign is 900mm high by 4790mm width and 50mm depth.

He said: "If we had been a cafe would we have had to take it down? It just seems a bit severe.

"It looks rubbish now we have taken the sign down. We have got a £2,500 sign sitting in the back garden."

Planning permission was given for the Gorgeous Giggle sign in February 2011 but the sign was smaller at 520mm by 4000mm by 50mm.

Boots Opticians gained permission for a sign in August 2010 of 650mm by 650mm and 70mm.