Vienna's gay-themed pedestrian traffic lights are here to stay.

Instead of the usual stick man, the lights show couples - a man and a woman, two women or two men.

Set up recently at 47 crossings, they were to be taken down in June after the end of several gay-friendly events.

But Vienna councilwoman Maria Vassilakou, in charge of traffic issues, said they will now remain.

State broadcaster ORF quoted her as saying they have already achieved cult status.

The right-wing Freedom Party said it will lodge a criminal complaint against Ms Vassilakou for allegedly contravening traffic regulations and wasting taxpayers' money at a cost of €63,000.

But a Facebook page calling for them to be kept has gathered more than 20,000 likes.