Wellington's painting prankster on global mission

The person responsible for a Mr Blobby paint job on Wellington's historic Pencarrow lighthouse could be on an international mission - a Scottish lighthouse received the Blobby treatment four months ago.

In February, the 7m lighthouse at Port Appin, on Scotland's west coast, was painted pink with yellow spots. An adjoining storage facility was also painted in the colours of the children's television character.

The prank was similar to the one carried out at Pencarrow. Over Queen's Birthday Weekend a vandal painted three sides of the lighthouse in Blobby colours.

Dave Stewart, one of the painters sprucing up the lighthouse, said the culprit must have brought his or her own paint and brushes, and had done a "fairly good job of it." The prank was expected to delay maintenance on the lighthouse for a day.

The Historic Places Trust lists the lighthouse, built in 1859, as a category one building - the most valuable.

Trust central region coordinator David Watt was not amused by the prank. "It's just a shame that some vandals think they can go and destroy things. They think it's funny, but there's a lot of expense involved in maintenance in that very exposed environment."

"It's a bit different from painting a house."

Mr Watt could not put a cost on removing the Blobby paint job, as the Stewarts' job was part of a five-year painting plan.

- NZPA