Thurrock Council has launched a crackdown against illegal adverts across the borough.

The campaign set up by planning officers aims to tackle "unauthorised, unsightly and unsafe" advert sites in the borough.

A spokeswoman for the council said council officers had cleared 30 unauthorised adverts, signs and banners, including those at junction 31 of the M25 near Thurrock Services.

The focus of the campaign is not only on keeping high standards of appearance but also on making sure the safety of drivers is not blighted by adverts which are in breach of planning controls.

Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Pauline Tolson, said the adverts "undermined the beauty of the borough."

She said: “These adverts undermine the beauty of the borough – they are unsightly and dangerous as they can distract motorists on busy junctions.

“There are too many of these illegal banners across Thurrock and work continues to take them all down.

“Let this be a warning to land owners who are looking to cash in – if you sell space for unauthorised adverts in Thurrock we will take action.”

Residents can report similar breaches on the Thurrock Council website – thurrock.gov.uk/planning