Do you think this red-and-white striped "protest" paint job in an eyesore? Neighbours in Kensington do, and say it is driving them “insane”.

The multimillion-pound house in South End has been given its “garish” candy-like appearance after a planning row among residents.

It underwent its makeover after neighbours objected to plans to demolish the building and replace it with a new house and two-storey basement.

Kensington and Chelsea Council rejected the plans but the application has been given the green light on appeal.

Objectors have vowed to continue fighting the plans and have launched an appeal at the High Court.

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Residents in the quiet cul-de-sac, one of London's richest neighbourhoods, are furious about the colourful redesign the house has been given in the meantime.

Saskia Moyle, 18, who lives across the road with her father, said she was shocked to come home one night to discover men up ladders painting the house.

She said: “I went out for dinner one evening about a month ago and when I came back there were people on ladders painting it.

"They didn't finish one of the stripes because as soon as I arrived they got off the ladders and left.

"I don't think it belongs here. It kind of glows in the evening. It's fluorescent. And the half finished stripe is driving me mad. It drives me insane."

She added: "It's very fluorescent and very garish. Without sounding very pretentious it isn't very Kensington. It's more Camden or something like that."

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, branded the paint job "horrendous".

She said: "It's between unbelievably hideous and very funny. I think it's horrendous.

"It's funny but it's probably not the nicest gesture. It's kind of a 'piss off' I think.

"Architecturally it doesn't belong here. It is pretty hideous."

The woman said plans to expand the townhouse in the pretty, cobbled street are hugely unpopular with neighbours.

And she believes the distinctive paint job is a provocative gesture which has riled neighbours.

She said: "I obviously don't want anyone to dig down with all the builders, it would be a living hell.

"I work from home and so am here all day.

"Clearly we don't have enough billionaires in the area - we need more."

A council spokesman said the painting of a building does not require planning permission.