A VICAR has hit out at a council that clamped down on posters advertising events in his church hall.

Two traders have said they will not hold any more sales in the parish hall at Barnard Castle because they can no longer put up notices.

The Reverend Alec Harding said the two -an antique dealer and a shoe seller -had each been paying £1,000 a year to hold events in the hall next to St Mary's Parish Church.

For years, posters have been tied to lampposts around the town centre on the morning of events, and taken down afterwards.

But Teesdale District Council has warned the owners of all halls in the area that this must stop.

A council spokeswman said yesterday: "We are currently addressing the unlawful display of advertisements, known as fly-posting.

"This includes any unauthorised display of advertisements, typically through posters, placards and boards, and is a criminal offence."

But Mr Harding said: "Many people will not know the events are being held if there are no posters to inform them.

"The hall has a struggle to keep going as it is, and this drop in income will be disastrous.

"It would be better if the council made us pay for a licence, which would allow a certain number of posters to be placed."

Councillor Margaret Hamilton said: "I have to agree with the vicar.

"There has to be a way of letting people, especially visitors, know what is going on in the parish hall, or any other hall, on a particular day."

Coun Ossie Hedley said he would ask if there was any way to help the venues within the confines of the law.