A BLITZ on advertising signs placed in the street outside shops has angered traders.

Shopkeepers in Clayton-le-Moors claim Hyndburn Council is hindering the development of small businesses by preventing them from keeping the A-frames outside their stores.

But a council spokesman said today that putting signs in the street had never been allowed.

The clampdown followed the introduction of a new Lancashire County Council code of practice recently approved by councillors in Hyndburn.

The code aims to prevent obstructions in the street by providing a policy which spells out which signs are permitted and which are forbidden.

People can apply for consent but officers say it will only be given in special cases, such as temporary direction signs or charity events.

Council officials sent out leaflets and wrote to the traders warning them of the clampdown.

Plans are also under way to hold a day in April when all illegal boards will be confiscated and only returned at a cost of £50.

Clayton-le-Moors trader Nick Collingridge said: "The local shopkeepers have put some pride back into the community.

"But the council seems to be doing everything it can to hinder our businesses.

"I have had boards outside one of my shops for three years and no-one has done anything about it until now."

Head of consultancy at Hyndburn operational services David Allonby said: "The A-frames have never been allowed and any obstruction in the street is an offence under the Highways Act.

"There are various types of obstruction and the new code of practice provides a policy which draws all these together."

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