Last week stories in the national media reported how Huntingdonshire District Council spent £30,000 on a new logo because its old one was not compliant with disability legislation.

But HDC has said that these reports were inaccurate and that the changed logo was part of a wider rebranding exercise and only partly prompted by the strictures of the Disability Discrimination Act.

A spokeswoman said: "The Disability Discrimination Act places a legal obligation on the council to meet the needs of and positively promote services for people with a disability. Printed material we produce, including forms, has to be appropriate for people with visual handicaps or learning difficulties.

"Feedback we received on our current stationery of grey paper with black text and the burgundy logo was that there was not enough contrast between text and the background on which it was printed.

"The timing of the project coincided with a number of new initiatives for example Eastfield House, our new offices on the Pathfinder House site, the new bus passes, and cash payment cards, and annual publications such as the visitor and accommodation guide and information that goes out with council tax bills.

"The design reflects features of the district, the river, green countryside and an impression of a bridge representing the many river crossings in our district."

The council hired Jam Marketing Communications for £29,000 to complete the work, which included site visits to get a feel for the district, design development and an audit of existing materials to identify the applications of the new logo.