But this week the owners admitted there may have been a huge faux pas over their traditional pub sign - which seems to show a FRENCH bull.

"We didn't have a clue it wasn't a normal English bull...The sign has been there for as long as anyone can remember and no-one has noticed before," said co-owner Tom Inwood.

Tom, who took over the hotel with business partner Chris Banks last month, first learned of the problem when a bull expert came to dine in the restaurant.

"He judges at cattle shows in Norfolk and he said our sign had been niggling him for years. We didn't believe him at first but he seemed to know his stuff."

Now Tom and Chris have vowed to take the bull by the horns and pay for a replacement sign to be made if the man is proved correct.

"What we need is a real expert on French and English bulls to come forward and settle this matter conclusively.

"To us it's just a brown and white animal and one bull looks very much like another. But I'm sure there's someone out there who can tell," said Tom, who by co-incidence has a French wife.

"I have nothing whatsoever against French bulls. I'm sure they are lovely creatures. But it is simply not right to have one on the sign of such an historic English pub."

Anyone who can positively identify the beast on The Bull sign should call the hotel on MK 567104.