THE company behind a series of "jocular" banners welcoming nudists, cross-dressers and lap-dancers to Penrith has been told to remove them or face legal action.

Market operators Spook Erection, the company behind the town's weekend markets, has been displaying the bright yellow banners at the side of the A66 trunk road next to Junction 40 of the M6, for the past six months.

With messages including "smelly armpits welcome" and "twitchers welcome", the company's managing director, Nigel Maby, explained the concept had grown after he decided to post a "smokers welcome" banner, inviting smokers to the weekly event.

"The idea came originally from the fact that smokers are being banned in some public places," said Mr Maby. "We put up a notice saying smokers welcome' and then it became dogs welcome' and the idea took off from there. We wanted everyone to know they are welcome to the markets."

But, after receiving a complaint from a member of the public, Eden District Council decided the signs were "adversely affecting the visual amenities of the area" and issued Mr Maby who is responsible for a number of weekly markets up and down the country - a letter, telling him it was an "offence to display an advert without the necessary consent".

"The banners were just meant to be a bit of fun. I know a lot of people have been amused by them but obviously someone has taken objection and fed this view to the council, who have acted upon it which is fair enough.

"I am disappointed. I fully appreciate EDC cannot have everybody proliferating adverts around the countryside because it is a bad idea, but this little bit of jocularity is a different thing all together."

Gavin Capstick, communications officer for EDC, said the council were currently addressing the increasing problem of unauthorised signs and advertisements across the district: "Whilst the content of signs and advertisements cannot be controlled under the regulations, the increase in the number of banners and signs displayed by Spook Erection and their positioning along the A66 was considered to be having a detrimental effect to visual amenity, and as a possible distraction to drivers, they also posed a potential risk to public safety."

Mr Capstick confirmed anyone, including nudists, asylum seekers and cross-dressers, would still be welcome at the Saturday and Sunday markets.