Crackdown on illegal adverts on Swindon streets
Illegal and "plain ugly" advertising signs and boards on Swindon's streets are to be removed as part of a clamp-down by the borough council.
The council wants to clear main routes into the town of placards and banners which "clutter up the verges".
Unauthorised signs on Cirencester Way, Cricklade Road and Thamesdown Drive will be targeted in the next few weeks.
Businesses which fail to remove their signs will have them seized and could face being charged with recovery costs.
Councillor Colin Lovell said the council was tackling "unsightly and unlawful advertising" following an increase in complaints.
"We want to make Swindon an attractive place to live, work and socialise, and getting rid of the growing proliferation of illegal and plain ugly advertising signs, we can play a part in achieving this.
"We hope that by offering businesses advanced warning that we will be taking this offence more seriously, they will remove any unauthorised signs and avoid the need for any fines or prosecutions."