ACTION is being demanded to curb the spread of advertising posters in Bolton.

Residents in Farnworth and Kearsley say posters and banners attached to empty walls are turning the area into an eyesore.

Councillor Bill Collison, ward member for Kearsley, said something needed to be done.

He added: "It's turning the area into a right mess with garish red and yellow signs everywhere.

"Businesses never seem to be satisfied and always want to put up a bigger and better sign or poster."

Town Hall bosses say illegal fly posters cause them a big problem but there is a grey area over the sort of banners and advertising now being complained about.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "Fly posting is a problem and particularly in the town centre.

"We have a team that deal with the removal of fly posters and they spend around 10 hours per week in the town centre removing them. They are usually adverts for local events, posters advertising products of large organisations and put up by professional poster companies."

Fly posting is defined as displaying advertising material on buildings and street furniture without the consent of the owner.