COUNTY Council officers have been slammed as "mean spirited" after taking down a banner promoting the Christmas pantomime in Evesham.

Keith Norledge, producer of "Mother Goose" at the Phoenix Theatre claims the authority is making a right pantomime over the banner on the bridge near Waterside.

"We had a telephone call telling us that the banner was illegal. They took it away and told us if we wanted it back we would have to fetch it from County Hall," said Mr Norledge.

"This seems particularly mean spirited given that we are a small theatre group putting on a performance for the local community.

"We have to promote the show and if we do not sell enough tickets we make a loss and this could either mean no pantomime in the future or higher prices."

Mr Norledge also claimed that the authority appeared to be inconsistent. He said: "Wychavon District Council and Evesham Town Council promote the annual angling festival and the town bonfire on the railings just around the corner in Abbey Road. It looks like a case of one rule for one and another rule for someone else."

Mr Norledge also complained that commercial organisations, including Tesco, appeared to plaster banners around the town as they liked.

"It seems very unfair that our temporary banner is taken away when we are simply trying to promote a none profit making event at Christmas for the enjoyment of all," he said.

Evesham county councillor, John Smith said: "Our policy is that we don't allow banners on any of our bridges and if our officers find out that banners have been erected, they will be taken down.

"That doesn't just apply to private companies but to our partner local authorities too.

"We have very pretty towns throughout the Vale and if we allowed banners to be put up at will, their picturesque nature would be ruined.

"We don't have a problem with this theatre company and our bridge engineers have advised them of where their banners can be put up." Where other authorities have put up banners on bridges, the County Council has contacted that council and requested they be taken down. Tesco's banner was erected on a railway bridge, which is nothing to do with the County Council.

Mother Goose is on from January 19-23 next year. So far 900 of the 1,800 seats have been sold.