Illegal flyposters plastered on a major gateway into Brentwood are giving visitors a poor impression.

Advertising posters dotted around the Brook Street roundabout are spoiling the image of Brentwood before motorists have even entered the town.

The posters - plugging everything from events to jobs - are popping up on all approaches including the M25 and A12 exits.

Currently they include a nightclub advertised as "SEX" and a sign promoting www.condom.com.

Brentwood Borough Council chiefs are finding the flyposters frustrating because the roundabout lies outside their jurisdiction in the London Borough of Havering.

Mother-of-two Sue Vincent, of Hill Road, Brentwood, believes the roundabout is tarnishing the town.

She said: "The posters are deliberately attention grabbing and some are inappropriate advertising for a public place. They give people a poor impression of Brentwood even before they enter the town.

"It is also potentially dangerous as the notices distract drivers on a busy roundabout. There are already enough legitimate signs to read."

Brentwood Council leader Cllr. David Gottesmann said: "This roundabout does not give a good image of Brentwood as people come into the town.

"We are tackling flyposting in the town but the stupid thing is that the roundabout is actually in the borough of Havering and it is their job to clean it up."

Cllr. Gottesmann said Brentwood Council had made representations to Havering in the past and would be making more.

A spokesman for Havering Council said: "As part of our Streetcare team's schedule we will be cleaning up the roundabout in the next 10 days."

Published Wednesday December 19, 2001