An angry letter threatening to paint over a controversial football mural has been sent to the man behind the artwork.

Since taking shape earlier this week, the mural in Oxton village has been met with both anger and passionate support.

The artwork features a Tranmere Rovers logo inside the Birkenhead coat of arms.

But one person has gone further and sent a letter intended for Ben Harrison, the Tranmere fan who commissioned the mural.

The letter reads: “You might own the building, but you don’t own the village.

“It’s a holy show, cheap tasteless bullyish graffiti. Not everyone likes football, especially Tranmere.

“We will have a proper painter and decorator and paint over it.”

The letter appears to have been intended for Mr Harrison, but sent to another address in error.

It follows much local opposition to the mural, with some people saying it ‘lowers the tone’ of the town.

In a light-hearted response, Tranmere fans have set up an online petition calling for Oxton to be renamed ‘Little Tranmere’, in recognition of the club’s role in the local community.

The petition had 132 signatures at the time of writing.

Defending the mural, Mr Harrison told the LDRS: “We don’t want to offend anyone, we’ve used one of the best artists in Merseyside.

“He’s done 40 murals, he’s done some very tasteful [ones] and hopefully people will like it.”

A big complaint from locals was that Mr Harrison did not ask those who live in the Oxton village conservation area for their opinion before commissioning the artwork.

On this, Mr Harrison said: “I appreciate you can go out and consult, [but] I don’t think it would have happened [if we did that].

“You get too many people involved, sometimes I suppose you’ve got to be brave.”

Tranmere fans took to social media to voice their support for the mural.

Posting on a Facebook page for Rovers fans, Joseph Brougham said: “Marvellous, well in Paul. Especially with the way the weather was against you, as well as the Oxton brigade.

David Williams said: “It is not only the Rovers best badge it is also the coat of arms of the county borough of Birkenhead, our town.

“People whining about this are ashamed of their town and take no pride in its achievements. In simple terms sod em all.”

Using a popular football chant for inspiration, Jonny Murphy said: “We’re Tranmere Rovers we paint where we want.”

However, many in Oxton are against the mural.

Posting on the Oxton Society Facebook group, Damian Calderbank said: “It’s as if someone has bought a building and given it a football tattoo, I do like football but not really keen on tattoos.”

Others argued football was not shown in Oxton’s pubs and was not relevant to the culture of the village.

Corinne Whitham said: “Please not a football emblem – lowering the tone of the village.”

People on social media also questioned whether Mr Harrison’s mural complied with planning rules.

On this a spokesman for Wirral Council, said: “The council was made aware of the mural and a planning officer has been to inspect it. However, we understand it is still to be completed.

“In the meantime we have contacted the owner of the building as we will require additional information to establish whether it complies with planning regulations.”