Council leaders have hit out at Liverpool's attempt to register the Liver bird as the club's trademark. The Anfield club have applied to the UK Intellectual Property Office to trademark the iconic image for £450.

The club hope the move will stem the tide of counterfeit Liverpool merchandise bearing the famous Liver bird emblem. However, the application has not been welcomed by Liverpool city council, who last week accused the club of attempting to "steal" the city's crest.

"This is outrageous," Flo Clucas, deputy council leader, said. "The Liver bird belongs to all the people of Liverpool and not one company or organisation. It cannot be bought and sold for private profit.

"This is a symbol of the city and is used not only by the council but also by hundreds of organisations, charities, voluntary groups and sports clubs."

A statement from the club said: "Liverpool Football Club is seeking to trademark only its own specific version of the Liver Bird, to combat its use in counterfeit merchandise.

"This does not extend to other versions of the Liver Bird, such as the city council's or those used by other commercial or charity organisations.

"We have absolutely no intention of challenging that usage of the Liver Bird. We are simply trying to stop people lifting our rendition of the Liver Bird out of the official club crest and applying it to fake Liverpool FC merchandise."

Last week, Clucas revealed that the council are taking legal advice over the trademark application.