ORGANISERS of a charity event are angry that their advertising sign was torn down by council officials in Richmond.

Sue Wood and her husband, Mike, who voluntarily run the town's Richmondshire Museum, have always advertised the main fundraiser of the year - an autumn antiques fair, by tying a board to railings near the tourist information centre.

The spot has also been used for several years by other local groups to promote events.

Mr Wood installed the sign on Monday but discovered the following day that it was missing. Inquiries revealed the sign had been removed by officers from Richmondshire District Council because the couple did not have written permission to display it.

"They could at least have told us," said Mrs Wood. "The people who have paid to have stalls at the fair expect the event to be advertised."

Mr and Mrs Wood said they would apply for written permission for future advertising signs, but that it was too late for Sunday's event.

Mr Wood said: "We are volunteers and this is a fundraising event for the museum. I felt like locking the museum and taking the keys to the district council and saying 'you run the museum.'"

The council says a requirement for written permission has been in place for a few years.

Client officer Gary Hudson said: "We have a procedure in place to stop unauthorised banners being put on the railings at the Friary Gardens.

"People are supposed to make a request and we will write back giving permission. We started this some time ago as the area was beginning to look untidy with too many posters and such which only detracted from each other.

"We did remove the banner concerned but have not had chance to speak to the individuals concerned due to work commitments."

Mr Hudson said he was surprised the Woods had not known of the procedure - which only applies to that site.

"We try to be fair to all," he said. "There is only limited space available but it is rare that we turn requests down."

* The antiques and collectors' fair is at the town hall on Sunday, 10am to 4.30.