PLANS to seal off an Evesham street to allow the shooting of a Churchill Insurance television advertisement received a blunt "Oh, no!" from Wychavon District Council.

Now the location manager who selected Montfort Street, Bengeworth, for the advertisement has vowed never to return to the area.

Guy Weller-Poley, a freelance location manager working with Ridley-Scott Associates, which was filming the advertisement last Thursday, wanted the road closed to prevent crowd invasion.

He said: "My job as a location manager is to find a location which provides minimum impact when the film crew are filming. Normally, we have two police officers who would help us out but after speaking to a West Mercia officer who suggested we seek the district council's help in obtaining a road closure, we decided to approach Wychavon District Council.

"We spoke to Wychavon District Council to get a road closure in place but it was too late. It was also too late for me to start rearranging for another location.

"Instead I had to do a letter drop to every resident in Montfort Street asking them whether they would mind filming taking place on their street.

"The residents agreed to it but I think in the future I will avoid Wychavon District Council."

A spokeswoman from the legal team at the council said: "Any person who wishes to carry out an event that requires a road closure can make an application to the district council.

"As part of this process, the council has to consult with the police, Worcestershire County Council and the Highways Agency and others to ensure that there are no objections to the road being closed and that all aspects of health and safety have been considered.

"The council requires a minimum of one month's notice for any proposed road closure and in this incident not sufficient time was given."