A gambling fanatic who slapped a "licensed betting shop" sign on the side of his house is under investigation by council bosses and police.
Today, greyhound owner Peter O'Neil, 42, claimed the red and white sign on his Preston home was an elaborate "joke" and said his home was "not an illegal betting den."
But furious neighbours in Burholme Close, Moor Nook, want the "licensed betting office" sign removed.
Meanwhile, licensing and planning chiefs at Preston Town Hall are investigating, along with the police after a beat bobby spotted the sign.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, described Mr O'Neil as "somewhat eccentric" and said: "It's probably been put up as a joke but no-one's happy about the sign. It's an eyesore.
"Neighbours we've spoken to are concerned about it because it's up and we don't know what's going on."
Mr O'Neil, who owns the Miller Road Cafe in Ribbleton, said he put the sign up around eight months as a prank after his girlfriend, Erica Thorpe, 28, complained about his constant on-line betting.
He said: "It's just a joke. It's not an illegal betting den, it's not a betting shop, it's just a normal house. My friends come round and we all sit and watch racing and we all have betting accounts on the computer.
"My girlfriend said one day, 'You're always on the computer – it's like a betting shop in here' so when she went out, I put the sign up.
"A (betting) shop closed down on St George's Road and I took it as a memento and put it on the side of my house. But nobody's knocked on the door to put a bet on. We thought we might get the odd person wanting to put the odd yankee on.
"Lots of people have commented but everybody thinks it's humorous because they know me and know I'm into my racing. It was done as a bit of fun to lighten up the area a bit but if I've offended anyone, I'll take it down."
Mike Thorpe, head of licensing at Preston Council, said he had referred the matter to the Gambling Commission, the organisation which issues operating licences to betting shops.
A proposed betting shop must have an operating licence before it can then apply to the council for a premises licence.
Mr Thorpe said: "It's been brought to our attention by the police.
"He's not applied for a premises licence and he would only be able to apply for one if he had an operators' licence."
A spokesman for the Gambling Commission said she could not comment on individual cases.
Alan Lowe, principal enforcement officer for planning at Preston Council, said the authority was investigating.
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