Expat Spanish town flooded with complaints as new leisure centre blocks sea view…but their ‘solution’ sparks MORE fury

THE council of a coastal Spanish town favoured by expats has been slammed with complaints after a new leisure centre blocked sea views.

And their solution to the controversy has only added fuel to the fire.

Torrevieja, southeast Spain, is home to a bumper number of Brit and Irish expats attracted to the blue waters and sunshine.

It's even been branded "Costa del Yorkshire" in a nod to the amount of sun-seekers who have moved from the historic county.

But dreamy sea views hit a snag with the construction of a new sports centre providing an obstacle for locals in a block of flats in La Mata.

Views of the sunny coast were suddenly replaced by a thick concrete wall, sparking a flurry of furious complaints.

In response, the Torrevieja City Council ticked off an ingenious idea - a giant, 1,000-square-metre painting on the wall illustrating fake views of the beach.

The high-tech mural is also equipped with a special chemical promising to remove bad odours, bacteria and air pollution.

But locals claimed the mural covered even more of their view than what was originally blocked by the wall.

Town Hall hit back, saying anyone who lives behind the site knew about plans to build the sports centre before buying their properties.

The local authority added it had no choice but to build there given they owned the slice of land.

In a positive development, residents can now head to the leisure centre for staple Spanish dish paella - served in a giant Yorkshire pudding.