We demonstrate the possibility of fabricating a simple, naked eye colorimetric sensor miniature, using chromo-ionophore molecular assemblies anchored on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) surface. The ion-sensing probe (4-n-dodecyl-6-(2-thiazolylazo)-resorcinol) provides a better efficiency with PVC platform in developing a series of colour transitions, while targeting trace levels of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+. The physical properties of the film sensor are controlled by measuring the probe isotherm plot. The surface morphology and molecular composition of the solid-state optical sensor are characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The changes in sensor's optical intensity and its response time for the target analytes are followed by absorption spectroscopy. High speed of response (t ≤ 5 min) and confidence in determination of analytes from chemically complex matrices has been achieved, using simulated synthetic mixtures and spiked real environmental samples, with a relative standard deviation of <3.9%. The proposed method offers consistent data reproducibility and reliability, with a detection limit of 0.031, 0.025 and 0.034 μM, for Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions, respectively. The sensor strips are reversible and reusable without any change in the sensing efficiency, up to four cycles. The signal response observed with the proposed method is consistent between sensors, and also are stable over time. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.