A COMPANY based near Ipswich is today £800 out of pocket after being caught placing illegal adverts along a busy Suffolk Road.Sign Dynamics put signs up near a slip road on the A14 which were unsightly and potentially dangerous to drivers, it was claimed.

A COMPANY based near Ipswich is today £800 out of pocket after being caught placing illegal adverts along a busy Suffolk Road.

Sign Dynamics put signs up near a slip road on the A14 which were unsightly and potentially dangerous to drivers, it was claimed.

The Sproughton-based company ignored a number of requests by Babergh District Council to permanently remove the signs over the last 12 months.

At one point the sign was removed - only to be replaced a short time afterwards.

The company pleaded guilty to displaying illegal advertising at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Monday after failing to get permission from the council.

Sign Dynamics was fined £400 and ordered to pay £400 in court costs.

Cate Buck, Babergh's environmental protection officer, said: “Babergh does not resort to court action lightly but felt in this case, given the persistent non-compliance with the Advertisement Regulations, we had no alternative but to prosecute.

“Babergh has policies which have to be adhered to for reasons that serve the interest of others living and passing through the district.

“We are pleased with the result. It sends a clear message to other potential offenders that we will not hesitate to take robust action against them when negotiations fail.”

Babergh also brought a successful prosecution earlier this year of another company for placing illegal advertising in the same location.

In April, Williams Tyre and Exhaust Services, of Boss Hall Industrial Estate, was fined £500 and ordered to pay £30 in costs.

Have you spotted any potentially dangerous advertising? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.