SAINSBURY'S has been arguing for the right to keep the bright orange signs on its store in Monday Market Street, Devizes.

Its appeal to keep the signs was heard before a Government planning inspector, Gareth Pryce, at a planning inquiry on Tuesday.

Kennet District Council refused consent for some of the signs after Sainsbury's had erected them on the building, which has a Grade II-listed frontage, opposite Devizes Books.

The council believes some of the signs, including the one over the front entrance to the store, are out of keeping with the conservation area.

Rob Parker, senior planning officer at Kennet, told the planning inquiry: "When the signs are illuminated they have a significant glow to them.

"The high degree of illumination together with the orange colour are quite obtrusive in the hours of darkness."

Chris Hays, a planning consultant representing Sainsbury's, said the level of illumination on the signs, the colour of which is called living orange, was within national technical guidance.

He added: "Sainsbury's doesn't feel that the level of illumination leads to over prominence."

Sainsbury's opened the store last December after buying the building from Budgens and spending £1million on refurbishment. Mr Pryce will make a decision on the appeal in due course.