A council confiscated three bikes belonging to a town centre store – saying they broke littering and antisocial behaviour laws.

Colchester Council cut the chains securing the three old cycles to bike racks opposite Williams and Griffin and at Angel Court, High Street.

The bikes were put there by Andrew Ward, manager of Debenhams, who wanted to advertise the Head Street department store.

Mr Ward had been told that handing out leaflets was banned, so he tried another approach and bought three old bikes, took off the saddles and replaced them with a pole with posters at the top.

However, under the Town and Country Planning Act and the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003, it is an offence to attach a sign or placard to street furniture, or to flypost.