A BUSINESSMAN who complained about his signs being stolen has been told he must remove them all because they break planning rules.

Colin Limond put yellow and black signs up in Consett to direct customers to the premises where he sells new and part-worn tyres at Bradley Workshops, Leadgate.

Last week, he complained thieves had cost him more than £1,000 by stealing the signs.

Now he has received a letter from Derwentside District Council telling him all signs must be removed by today.

Mr Limond said: "I only put them up so people know where I am. I am just trying to make a living.

"It has come as a heck of a shock. I didn't realise we would need permission because there are lots of businesses who have got signs up.

"We have asked if we could put in for planning permission but we have been told it would be rejected.

"We have no choice in the matter because the local authority has told us they break the regulations of the Highways Act."

The letter was sent out by planning enforcement officer Tony Shepherd.

He said: "It has got to the stage where, because of the number of signs, we had to ask for them to be removed.

"Local people are now very aware of where the business is. If we just left them they would accumulate."

Durham County Council's highways department said it would use its powers to remove the signs if they are not taken down.

A council spokesman said: "There are a great many businesses in the same area and if all decided to do the same, then they would impact on safety, cause great confusion and the landscape would become cluttered and ugly."