Business leaders in a north Shropshire town say it is a “disgrace” that signs put up to advertise a local event were taken down by Shropshire Council.

Border, Bars and Marquees of Whitchurch put up 16 signs around the town to publicise their wedding fair later this month.

The professionally-made signs, which were attached to posts with zip ties, were put up on April 7, but had all been taken down by April 12.

But today, Shropshire Council said they were taken down as it was classed as fly-posting.

Mike Bate, of the chamber of trade and commerce, said: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace. It’s merely a Whitchurch firm trading in difficult conditions and Shropshire Council has taken their signs down.

“Everybody has been advertising this way for years. Why has Shropshire Council singled out Border Marquees?

Janet Proudlove, of Border, Bars and Marquees, said: “We have got a wedding fair on our farm on April 25. I have asked all local businesses to support it and show us what they do.

“We had signs made and put them up. We would have fetched them back in but Shropshire Council cleared up and have taken all the signs down.

“We put 16 out and eight were returned.

“Yes there are a lot of posters around everywhere, I agree, but all these posters that are out of date, why not take them down and leave the ones in-date up?”

Mrs Proudlove added a host of businesses and organisations in the town advertise in the same way.

Victoria Ashmore, street scene manager with Shropshire Council, said: “Putting up posters without permission is classed as fly-posting, and is therefore illegal.

“Not only were the posters advertising the wedding fair in Whitchurch put up without permission, some were also placed on road signs which was potentially dangerous.”

She added: “Fly-posting is illegal and anyone found to have done it can be issued with a fixed penalty notice or face prosecution.

“However, on this occasion a warning was issued.”

By Suzanne Roberts