PEOPLE offended by posters in Bury for the new Austin Powers movie have been told - tough.

Bury Council has received several complaints from residents that advertising for the Mike Myers comedy is in very bad taste.

But legal officers say they are powerless to change the billboards (pictured) which proudly boast the legend "Austin Powers - The Spy Who S*****d Me".

Unsworth councillor Gordon Sharkey received a complaint from a resident and is now thinking about writing to the Advertising Standards Authority.

"I am concerned about these posters," he said. "I'm not a prude, but I don't think it's in the best taste.That's the name of the film, but there's no need for that word."

Mr Stan Monaghan, director of corporate resources, said there was nothing the local authority could do.

"The only time the council can do anything is when we own the land," he said. "In those circumstances we would have some control under the terms of the lease over the content, in that it should not be offensive."

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