AN ESTATE agent is fuming because the council threatened to prosecute him over advertising boards donated for free for a school summer fair.

Central Estates, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, regularly sponsors parents of schoolchildren to allow them to put up signs advertising their school's fairs and events.

The estate agent, which benefits from its logo being displayed prominently on the boards, puts up the signs for free on private properties and then pays the school an amount for each parent that takes part.

In recent weeks Central Estates has erected signs advertising the annual summer fete at Greenleaf Primary School, in Greenleaf Road, Walthamstow, which took place on July 11.

Central Estates director Neil Ewen said the company has been sponsoring the signs for years as a goodwill gesture to the community at a cost of £20 a sign and fa urther £5 a sign in sponsorship money, and had never had any problems from the authorities.

But this year the council threatened to prosecute the estate agent, saying two of the signs, attached to private properties in Bemsted Road, Walthamstow, contravene the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as there is no “consent” for them.

Mr Ewen said: “We have been doing this for five or 10 years and never had a problem.

“The signs conform to the regulations and we had the permission of the homeowners.

“We are doing something for the community, we don't feel we have been treated fairly.”

The council sent a letter to Central stating that the authority will prosecute unless the signs are immediately removed, and pointed out that the maximum fine is £2,500.

Mr Ewen said: “I am annoyed the council did not talk to me about this, but has just sent a threatening letter, it is ridiculous.”

Mr Ewen has contacted the council for clarification about why the authority believes Central has broken the rules, but has not had a response.

Cllr Afzal Akram, the council's cabinet member for enforcement, said the company's log takes up almost two-thirds of the board and therefore looks like an advertisement thus requiring council consent.

He said: "I'm sure the company are doing this with the very best of intentions and not just as an advertising opportunity. "I hope the company can continue to demonstrate their best intentions by making a financial donation or an alternative sponsorship arrangement with this and any other school they were supporting.