PEOPLE advertising their businesses and events through banners at the side of the road could be distracting drivers, the AA has warned.

It comes after the council took down 15 unauthorised tarpaulin sheets plugging companies and entertainment on a fence along Priory Bridge Road.

The County Gazette this week discovered a similar number outside the former St Augustine of Canterbury School, in Priorswood Road.

AA public affairs spokesman Luke Bosdet said: "The degree to which they distract drivers depends on the location and the nature of the sign.

"One on a roundabout or at a busy junction is clearly dangerous because drivers need to concentrate and not have their attention diverted elsewhere.

"Signs that carry a phone number, in effect, are asking drivers to suspend their focus on the road and memorise the number.

"Perhaps worst, are the 'happy' signs, celebrating a birthday or engagement, spray-painted on a sheet and draped over a road sign or hung from a bridge - fun for some, very distracting for others and usually on busy roads."

Mr Bosdet said a better way to catch motorists' attention would be at petrol stations, which could then pull in extra income from charging a fee.

He added: "How will the council view signs for village fetes and charity fundraisers - we’re moving into the busy period for that type of sign."

A Taunton Deane Borough Council spokeswoman said it is an offence to display banner adverts without planning consent.

She added: "The council will respond to complaints – only last week 15 unauthorised banner-style adverts were removed from Priory Bridge Road in Taunton.

"Complaints should be addressed to planning enforcement based at The Deane House in Belvedere Road, Taunton."

Viewers of our website have had plenty to say about the issue - here's a selection of your comments.

*ariestheram: "Utter eyesore and should not be allowed to continue. Like a lot of event signs, they are rarely taken down at the end and become litter."

*Somerset SPY: "I find them informative and have attended several local events which they advertised which I would have otherwise missed."

*jellyonaplate: "These signs and banners are an absolute eyesore. Most of these do not have a licence to advertise along the highways and more times than not they never get taken down after the events or by the council for not paying to advertise. Really dislike seeing roadside advertising everywhere.

And from Taunton Deane Mayor @marciaj64 on Twitter: "gives passengers something to look at when driver moaning about traffic and state of roads."