For the past seven years, I have organised the Abingdon firework display at Dalton Barracks (except last year when it was held at Abbey Meadows because the airfield was booked).

I have never asked for help from the Vale of White Horse District Council or Abingdon Town Council in putting on what I see as a public service for the town, but in the last two years, I seem to have been getting hindrance rather than help.

Last year, I put up signs and banners around the town, just over two weeks before the display, to notify people of the display date.

The following day, every single one had been removed.

I eventually traced them to the council site at the cemetery in Spring Road.

When I went to collect them, I was verbally abused and sworn at by a council employee. I thought this was in extremely poor taste, considering where we were!

He stated that it shouldn't be called the Abingdon firework display because the airfield was in Shippon! I complained to the Town Clerk, who apologised for the staff member's behaviour.

I explained my concern - that if the public didn't know about the display, more fireworks would be bought for use at home, resulting in more accidents.

He then said that it was fine to put up signs as long as they were not erected more than two weeks before the event, which I complied with.

This year, I saw your article (Oxford Mail, August 29), stating that flyposters faced a £75 fine for each offence, unless signs were authorised or licensed.

I contacted the council to gain permission, and was told I needed to contact the highways division.

I contacted highways and was told: "We do not give permission for advertising signs to be placed on the highway."

The district, town and parish councils do not give permission either. I was supposed to have a fair at this year's display.

The fair did not turn up on the day. When I contacted the owner, he said he had come to Abingdon the week before and as there were no advertisements, it would not be worth turning up!

Traders in Abingdon have told me they have had to remove 'A' boards, and they are losing customers who do not even realise that they are open.

Anyone with half a brain can see that Abingdon is dying on its feet, with vast amounts of money being spent on the nonsensical and proven failure of the transport strategy, the failure to introduce free parking, the appalling state of the precinct due to the landlords not wishing to improve it, and the growing list of businesses that are closing up or moving out to nearby towns.

Come on, Abingdon councillors, do you really want a ghost town, with no community events, no shops, and no-one coming to the town?

JULIAN ANNELLS Event organiser Dearlove Close Abingdon