Town with high level of teenage pregnancies adopts 'sperm' logo

A Devon town with high levels of teenage pregnancies has a new logo - which critics claim looks like sperm.

The logo came out of a brainstorming session by consultant Fresh Bread Marketing with representatives from Ilfracombe's tourism, retail and business communities, as well as Ilfracombe Town Council and North Devon Council.

The logo is aimed at "encapsulating Ilfracombe's fascinating and appealing attributes into one logo, strapline and brand that reflects and reinforces the distinctive essence of Ilfracombe", according to the town council.

Designer Tessa Martin said: "The new Ilfracombe logo, with its idiosyncratic 'swirl' above the 'i' indicates intrigue, mystery and drama expressed with a spot of humour and fun too.

"It also reflects the twists and turns of the landscape and can conjure up thoughts of the seaside, sea, an ice cream, the harbour and fish."

The logo incorporates the strapline "Curious Coastal Charm".

But the rebranding exercise has divided opinion in Ilfracombe, which has the second highest teenage conception rate in Devon.

Comments on the council's website have ridiculed the logo, saying it looks like sperm.

One post, from Lee, said: "How on earth did they miss the sperm? On the plus side, they could always market themselves as the 'most fertile town in England'."

Another from a blogger calling himself Victor Meldrew said: "Well its got people talking about Ilfracombe. The problem is they all seem to link Ilfracombe with sperm."