A Manchester United fan has won a battle to stop his home being painted blue – the colour of the club's bitter rivals.

Housing association Somer provoked anger by announcing plans to paint its houses in one village either blue or pink.

Somer Housing has started changing the colour of its homes in Frederick Avenue and Albert Avenue in Peasedown St John as part of a repainting programme.

Resident Edward Bowkett said he was angry because his house would end up the colour of Manchester City, and be marked out as a rented home and different from the privately-owned properties on the street.

The 61-year-old, who lives with his wife Sue in Frederick Avenue, had been initially told by Somer that his house would have to be painted blue because that was the agreed colour for his street.

But the housing association has now compromised and agreed to let him have it painted white because he was so unhappy.

Although Mr Bowkett said he was pleased that his house was not going to be blue, he is still not keen on the look of his road, where there are now blue and white homes.

He said: "People around here have been calling it Smurfville. I have never known anything like it. The whole area is just blue."

Mr Bowkett was first contacted by Somer around four months ago when he was invited to a meeting in the village to discuss a repainting project.

He said that during the meeting, which was only attended by about seven people, he was given a book of colours and asked to choose which one he liked best. He assumed that that was the colour his house would be painted and thought no more of it.

However, over the past week or so he started noticing a number of homes in his street being painted blue and contacted Somer to find out what was happening.

He was told that most people in his street who had responded to the consultation had chosen blue as their preferred colour, while homes in Albert Avenue are being painted pink.

Mr Bowkett said: "It is like segregation. Anybody that now lives in social housing in the area has got to have their house painted the same colour. In my eyes that is being stigmatised.

"Also I am a Man United supporter, so I didn't want a blue house. It is such a cold blue and to be painted all the same, it is pointing the finger and telling everyone that we can't afford our own house."

Somer said it was aware that Mr Bowkett was not happy with the chosen colour and had worked with him so that he could have his home painted white.

Its assistant director of asset management Richard James said: "The colour scheme at Frederick Avenue is made up of shades of blue that was chosen through an evening consultation event with residents. All residents were also informed of the chosen colour scheme prior to the work commencing.

"We will continue with the current scheme that residents are generally pleased with, but will agree alternatives with residents who are unhappy with the chosen colour."

Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib Dem, Peasedown) said he was pleased that Mr Bowkett had found some sort of compromise with Somer.

He said: "I am really happy that Somer Housing is doing up their properties and I am pleased they have listened to residents on this occasion."