TOWN hall bosses have stepped up their crackdown against traders who are defying the controversial A-board ban.

Five summonses have been sent out to Blackburn firms who have refused to remove their signs, which the council says are causing an obstruction.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is not naming the firms but one business has come forward to criticise the latest action.

David Wilson and Julie Ryder, who run a shop in Lower Cockcroft, have been handed a court summons but are refusing to back down in the row with the council.

David, who sells Eastern style ornaments at Naturally Yours and Julie, who runs a second hand clothes shop called Past and Present, have had their advertising board confiscated by the council.

The business partners are planning to stage a protest at the court and have written to Blackburn MP Jack Straw calling for his support. David, 33, said: "We are off the beaten track so we need to let people know that we are here.

"When we had our sign taken off us trade dropped by 50 per cent. They are just killing us off by doing this.

"What the council is doing is terrible. Hundreds of firms in the town are furious about what has been going on.

"We are not going to back down and we will fight the council all the way.

"These rules are really unfair and it is about time the council changed its mind."

The five firms could be fined up to £1,000 if they are found guilty of an offence under the Highways Act.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "This is not an action we wanted to take but the council was left with no choice.

"The council is hopeful that people will take notice of this action and we will not have to repeat these measures again.

"Taking this action is also in the interests of those businesses who are cooperating with the A board regulations."

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