A NUMBER of controversial advertising boards vanished from Worcester over the weekend – despite council chiefs insisting they had not told traders to remove them.

Shop owners came under fire last week for ‘cluttering’ the city with A-boards and some were removed from parts of the High Street in a seemingly unprompted act.

Last week, up to five A-frames were spotted around the Guildhall, near Copenhagen Street, but that was reduced to just one yesterday, owned by the Nosh Sandwich & Deli shop.

Debenhams had elected to remove its board from the main walkway so it sits right next to the store, while numerous other boards placed next to benches and bollards had gone completely.

But the removal of some A-frames made little difference for pedestrians heading towards Foregate Street, near The Cross, where many remained in place.

Three were spotted in a row next to the Slug and Lettuce at The Cross yesterday, with four remaining near Barclays in the High Street.

Councillor Lynn Denham, who represents the city centre and called for a crackdown last week, said the removal of the signs had improved things.

“In the area from WH Smith to the CrownGate there was previously a lot all over the place, but it’s a lot better now,” she said.

“What is more, the A-boards that are on display are mainly tucked away neatly against the relevant shop or business and not stuck out.

“Congratulations to the Worcester News and to all those businesses who have re-assessed the value of A-boards to their customers.”

Both council chiefs and Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), which represents traders, said they had not asked shops to remove the boards.

Many traders who still have them on display are adamant that they improve trade.

Martin Pugh, manager of greengrocer Housewives Choice, in Church Street, said: “I’ve been told that as long as it’s in the vicinity of the store, it’s okay. I haven’t been told to remove them and don’t plan to – we’re down a side street and it really does help having it there.”

A spokeswoman for Poppins Restaurant in Foregate Street, which has a board at The Cross, said: “The board we’ve got has always been in the same place. We haven’t been asked to take it down by anybody.”

Adrian Field, from Worcester BID, said the group had played no part in the removal of boards.

“There are fewer than before, but we haven’t asked traders to make a concerted effort to move them,” he said.