Paint job for minibus as pub gets patriotic

Patriotic Shropshire pub landlord Ian Barton is well and truly flying the flag for England in the World Cup after turning his minibus into a Cross of St George on wheels.

Ian's Ford Transit is fully bedecked in England livery which he hopes will raise morale across the county and get everyone rooting for the national team.

It even comes equipped with three lions on the roof - which have been attached with steel rods to prevent anyone stealing them.

Ian, landlord of the Duke of York in Oakengates, Telford, splashed out around £400 on the paint job which will be seen out and about taking the pub's sports teams to matches.

The 46-year-old said: "We've got pool, darts and dominoes teams as well as four football sides and I use the minibus to take them to away games.

I just thought the bright, England livery would raise people's spirits a bit. I think everyone is fed up with the recession and the doom and gloom surrounding it.

"I know a lot of people have now got little England flags on their cars but the minibus should be a real eye-opener and let everyone know we are backing the team."

Ian, who runs the pub with his partner Julie Albert, also has a ready reply for anyone who asks him what he is going to do with his minibus once the World Cup is over.

"That's easy," he said. "I'm going to get it repainted with the words 'England, 2010 World Cup Winners'."

The van was painted for Ian by Paul Hughes from Western Signs and Printing in Oakengates.