An unnamed furniture business has been fined by Bedford Borough Council in relation to fly-posting.

A furniture business owner put up signs for a furniture sale on Ampthill Road, which were soon reported to the Council.

The Bedford Borough Council Cleansing Team removed and disposed of them. The Council’s Environmental Crime Team then followed this up by tracking down the person responsible using CCTV footage from the area.

Fly-posting is the unauthorised placing of advertising on property, without the permission of the owner. In this instance, Bedford Borough Council issued the highest Fixed Penalty Notice permitted by legislation, which is £100, and the business owner has since paid.

A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson said: “Fly-posters are unsightly, spoil the environment and are illegal. They can also be a hazard to road users and pedestrians by obscuring the view of the highway, which can lead to accidents.

“Businesses are reminded that the Council removes and disposes of fly-posters as soon as they are reported and will always take enforcement action against those caught fly-posting. This could result in a fine of up to £2,500 for putting up a poster that is removed on the same day and so isn’t a gamble worth taking for businesses, especially when cheaper and more effective ways to advertise are available.”