Derby's Sultan of Zanzibar bust 'needs planning permission'
The owners of a Derby pub have been told by city officials they need planning permission for a statue which has been erected on the pub's roof.
The figure, which is the head and shoulders of a sultan, stands above the Woodland Pub in Allestree.
It was bought by some locals at the pub after it was taken down from the old Zanzibar nightclub.
Pub manager Mark Ruddick said he was surprised that so many people were opposed to the statue.
A Derby City Council spokesman said: "We are aware of the statue and have contacted the owners to remind them that planning permission is required."
The council said the planning control committee would make a final decision about the statue after several complaints from local residents.
Callum Gurney, from Allestree, one of the group of friends who bought the statue, said: "It has not been put up there to annoy people, we genuinely thought we were doing a good thing for the community by buying the statue.
"The statue is something for the whole community and has been for a good cause.
"A lot of people like it up there and we feel that for a minority of people to say it is grotesque and horrible is really upsetting."
The bust, which is believed to represent a former sultan of Zanzibar, was bought by 13 of the pub's regulars who paid £420 in an online auction.
The money raised from the sale of the statue was given to charity.