Community steps in to help promote music festival

Organisers of a music festival threatened with prosecution for putting advertising signs on public land without permission said they have been "inundated" with offers to host the notices.

Scott Wilkinson, from the DavFest music festival in Daventry, Northamptonshire, received what he described as a "rather threatening email" from the council saying he could be prosecuted after 16 signs were placed around the town.

Organisers of the nearby Welton Soapbox Derby said they received a similar email after signs went up to publicise their event.

West Northamptonshire Council said fly-posting was a criminal offence.

Makeshift signs highlighting potholes in the town were reported earlier this year and increased attention on placards placed next to roads.

Mr Wilkinson said that since taking the DavFest posters down, nearly 100 people had contacted him offering to put one on their land.

He described the council's attitude as "frustrating" but said people in the town had been "absolutely brilliant".

However, Chris Barlow, organiser of the Welton Soapbox Derby, has not taken his signs down.

He said the posters had been put up in the same locations since 2014 when the event started, and no complaints had been raised before.

Mr Barlow said the tone of the council's communication was "demanding" and that his approach was the most cost-effective method of advertising for a not-for-profit event.

A spokesperson for West Northamptonshire Council said: "Fly-posting is a criminal offence.

"Any organisations or companies that do not comply may face enforcement action under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action where reasonable requests to clean up are not complied with."

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