People plastering west Oxfordshire with posters could soon find themselves in court.

Planners are to crack down on people who persistently publicise sales, live music events and dances by fixing up illegal posters.

Ian Morrow, of West Oxfordshire District Council's planning department, said: "In the past year the problem of indiscriminate flyposting appears to have worsened.

"The posters are generally brightly-coloured and located in prominent locations such as town centres or busy road junctions, so can be both eyesores and distracting to users of the highways." Officers are now regularly inspecting known "hot spots" and removing the posters.

Mr Morrow said: "If these persistent recurring displays continue it is our intention to instigate legal proceedings."

Planners stress they will still allow organisers of fetes and other community events to publicise their events.

Mr Morrow said: "The signs are usually taken down by volunteers shortly after the publicised events."

Former Witney mayor Arthur Titherington has campaigned for years to prevent flyposting. He said: "I'll back any moves to get rid of flyposters. They are plastered all over Witney."