A-board limit for Ludlow traders

Traders will only be allowed one A-board in a bid to stop Ludlow's narrow streets getting clogged up.

But business owners today criticised the move, saying they needed all the help they can get during tough economic times.

Ludlow Town Council had last week been considering "opting out" of Shropshire Council's new policy to limit businesses to two A-boards each to tackle clutter in county streets. But, after a long debate, councillors voted on Monday to bring in even tougher rules in Ludlow, with second A-boards only permitted in "exceptional circumstances".

Natalie Lane, from N-Spa Tanning and Beauty in Valentines Walk, said: "We all need as much advertising as we can during the current time.

"Things like this make you wonder what you pay your council tax for."

A spokeswoman for De Grey's tearooms, which has two A-boards in Broad Street, agreed it was the wrong to limit A-boards.

Town clerk Veronica Calderbank said councillors feared the town's narrow streets could be clogged up by too many of the boards.