text: Plans for a 'rainbow' zebra crossing to support gay rights could be abandoned amid fears it would cause hallucinations for dementia sufferers. The brightly coloured pedestrian crossing was due to be installed in Totnes in Devon - the first in Europe - as a mark of the town's pride for its gay community. But experts have warned that painting the road different colours could have side-effects for people with Alzheimer's. Scroll down for video . Plans for a 'rainbow' zebra crossing to support gay rights in Totnes, Devon, could be abandoned amid fears it would cause hallucinations for dementia sufferers . The brightly coloured crossing was due to be installed in Totnes in Devon - the first in Europe - as a mark of the town's pride for its gay community . Fears were expressed to councillors who had been asked to back the plan to install the crossing across an area called The Plains. Councillors told the Proud2Be group, which has launched the campaign, to go away and seek further medical advice from experts. Totnes town councillor Carol Wellwood said: 'Somebody who works with the elderly is concerned that people with Alzheimer's might find a rainbow crossing very troubling. 'The claim is that it would cause them to have hallucinations.' Mat Price, who runs the the Proud2Be group revealed that a trained dementia champion had contacted the group warning of the serious health impact. But he said: 'I don't understand why it is any different from putting a rainbow-coloured display in a shop window or Christmas lights up at Christmas. But Mat Price, who runs the the Proud2Be group revealed that a trained dementia champion had contacted the group warning of the serious health impact. Experts have warned that painting the road different colours could have side-effects for people with Alzheimer's . 'I am concerned that if this keeps going backwards and forwards we will not be the first place in Europe to do this, we will be the 40th. 'We have already trialled it in the High Street and no-one got killed.' The world's first rainbow crossing has already been unveiled in Vancouver in Canada and Melbourne in Australia is planning to make a temporary crossing permanent. The crossing was temporarily installed to mark Pride celebrations last year. The world's first rainbow crossing has already been unveiled in Vancouver in Canada and Melbourne in Australia is planning to make a temporary crossing permanent. There have been temporary crossings in London and Brighton but the one planned in Totnes is hoped to be the first permanent one in Europe. There have been temporary crossings in London and Brighton but the one planned in Totnes is hoped to be the first permanent one in Europe. The estimated cost of £15,000 to set it up would be found through an international fund raising campaign, grant funding and commercial high-profile sponsorship. It was temporarily installed to mark Pride celebrations last year. The crossing was removed but gay rights project Proud2Be has been fighting to create a permanent version ever since. Mr Price, who set up Proud2Be with his twin brother, said that he hoped the crossing would send a strong and positive message. Mat, 32, said: 'Totnes is a brave and courageous town, which likes to do things first. We want to celebrate diversity and encourage people to be proud of who they are.' His brother and co-founder Jon Price, 32, said: 'Growing up in a rural community as LGBT, I know how important it is to feel supported as it is easy to be isolated. 'The rainbow crossing is a great way to increase the visibility and awareness around these issues. This has brought the community together to do something positive.'
target: The brightly coloured crossing was due to be installed in Totnes in Devon .
  Was planned to be Europe's first rainbow crossing in support of gay rights .
  But experts warn they could have side-effects for  Alzheimer's sufferers .