Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has criticised local officials in London’s Primrose Hill after they removed graffiti which featured lyrics from the band’s 1993 hit single ‘For Tomorrow’ from a local footpath.

The lyrics, which read “And the view’s so nice”, were inspired by Primrose Hill and have been present on a footpath in the London area since 2000. However, last week, they removed by cleaners, leading Rowntree to hit out.

The drummer told Camden New Journal: “It’s a jobsworth attitude in an Olympic year where we’re supposed to celebrating British culture, and Blur did contribute to British culture. It’s part of the Blur story.”

He continued: “I can understand the decision, but I lived in the area for about 15 years and even I got used to it being there. It’s a shame, it was in one of our videos, we felt deeply about the lyric and about the hill.”

Some loyal fans did subsequently attempt to repaint the lyrics on the path, but according to local paper Ham & High, their efforts were rendered useless by rain.

Blur are currently gearing up for their huge summer shows. The band announced an intimate tour last week, which will see them play four shows, beginning at Margate’s Winter Gardens on August 1. They will then play two shows at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall on August 5 and 6, before finishing off at Plymouth’s Pavilions on August 7.

The shows will act as a warm-up for the band’s huge outdoor gig at London’s Hyde Park on August 12. That show sees Blur topping a bill that also includes New Order and The Specials. The gig has been put on to coincide with the closing ceremony of the Olympic games.

Along with playing at Hyde Park, Blur are also scheduled to headline Sweden’s Way Out West festival in August.