A DECISION to ban advertising banners outside Tavistock's town hall has sparked an angry reaction from organisers of one of the largest amateur arts exhibitions in the South West.

Tavistock Group of Artists is due to hold its 46th annual exhibition at the town hall this June — the event attracts up to 3,000 visitors and is publicised by a large banner next to the town hall.

But the recent decision by the town council's properties committee to ban such banners has left exhibition organiser Anthony Race 'hopping mad'.

He said: 'Do these people realise they are there to help and serve the people of Tavistock?

'The exhibition is probably the largest and best produced amateur exhibition this side of Bristol with approximately 3,000 visitors passing through, a large number of whom come especially to see the exhibition and, of course, spend their money in the market and shops of Tavistock — we must therefore be considered a considerable tourist attraction.'

Mr Race said exhibition organisers are making even greater efforts to attract people due to the current foot and mouth crisis.

'What a great time for the properties committee to decide they are going to ban a major piece of our advertising.'

Mr Race said the group paid £1,360 to rent the town hall this year.

'For that sort of money we would expect a little bit of service. We paid for hanging the banner, the posters, the electricity — It's a lot of money for very little, frankly,' said Mr Race.

John Hobbs, of the Robey Trust, which uses an advertising banner for its annual steam fair, said he would be 'very disappointed' if it could not be used.

'It's hard enough to put on these events anyway. It's not only the Trust or any other organisation that benefits, it's the 5,000 people that come to our events and bring their money into the town.

'To pick a year when the tourist industry is fighting hard to attract people to this part of the world seems to me to be less than propitious,' he said.

Mr Hobbs said he had not had any official notification of the decision by the council — neither had Tom Percival, chairman of the committee which organises the annual Tavistock Flower Show.

He said: 'It's a big advert for us and I would be quite upset if we couldn't have it. It would affect us — people coming into the town wouldn't notice us. That banner is a focal point.'

Town clerk Roger Howard said the council voted to ban banners because some members felt they obscured the view of the new pannier market sign. They have to be erected at a very high level to keep them out of reach of vandals.

He said: 'Actually, it takes four of my men to put them up. Currently, it is policy that there shall be no banners and people can put up big posters on the town hall notice boards.'

Col Howard said the policy could be rescinded if at least five councillors request the matter be debated again at the next council meeting on May 1.