Wiltshire Council has confirmed it will take action against a circus which posted flyers around Melksham and Lacock without permission.

Circus Ginnett put up posters around the town and surrounding villages to promote its upcoming shows at the Whitehall Garden Centre.

The issue was raised by independent councillor for Melksham Without North Terry Chivers in an email to the council.

He said: “It’s going to take at least two days to clean up Whitley alone, and then we have all the other villages that have been blitzed with these posters.

“You can’t complain about the odd poster but they have gone well over the top, every other lamppost has a poster on it and every space that they have been able to cover they have. It looks a total mess.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council replied to Cllr Chivers, saying: “Whilst circuses and other such event organisers are allowed to display notices in certain circumstances, officers have checked and no permission has been given on this occasion.

“Head of Local Highways and Streetscene Adrian Hampton has asked his officers to remove the notices from highway land and equipment.

“The enforcement team have also been informed so that they can take the appropriate action.”