un-pop-ular with shoppers and passersby at Modern Mart in Paget yesterday.

There were cries it was ugly, illegal and not in keeping with the Bermuda image. And one shopper worried it might cause an accident because it stands only a few feet from South Road.

But the shop's manager said: "It's only there for a couple of days''.

The company went to great expense to fly it in from Canada for the Christmas parade, but it was too windy on the day to fly it, manager Mr. Mike Moskal said.

"We thought it was a shame to go to all that expense and not use it at all,'' he said. "But it is going back on the ship next week.'' "It's ugly -- it's an eyesore and it's not Bermudian,'' a shopper said. "It caused a lot of turned heads in cars. It's the biggest one I've ever seen,'' Wolde Bartley, 9, said, adding,"Its good advertising for President's Choice Soda though.'' Ms Nitra Butterfield said the balloon was so "humungous'' she turned to stare as she passed by. But she felt there was nothing wrong with displaying it.

A Works and Engineering employee agreed: "They're just trying to sell something like everyone else.'' A Market Place spokesman said planners yesterday warned the supermarket chain that the balloon may be in contravention of Bermuda's sign rules.

But he did not yet know if the balloon would be at another Market Place Store today.

The bright red 20-foot inflated can rested on a truck parked in front of Modern Mart, causing a stir with passing motorists.

On Wednesday it was parked outside the Heron Bay MarketPlace, prompting one Southampton resident to complain it was "horrendous''.

"Four Star Pizza was not allowed to put up a sign outside its shop that was much smaller,'' he said.

UN-POP-ULAR SIGN -- This promotional balloon for President's Choice Cola caused a stir outside Modern Mart in Paget yesterday, but management promised it was going back to Canada next week.