Published: December 22, 2007
Fathers 4 Justice group in 'graffiti' paint stunt besides M5 at Burnham

Controversial campaign group Fathers 4 Justice has carried out two 'graffiti' paint stunts on land besides the M5 motorway in Burnham-On-Sea this week.

The high-profile group, which is renowned for its publicity-seeking tactics, has spray-painted its name over two sets of farmyard silage bags at two sites north and south of junction 22 of the M5 motorway at Burnham, as pictured here.

Sedgemoor District Council has strict rules on advertising hoardings next to roads, but it says that its regulations do not cover this type of 'graffiti' - even though it is so highly visible to motorists.

Spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It's difficult for us to act as Fathers 4 Justice appears to have done this without the consent of the landowner."

"We can only take action where landowners have breached planning conditions by taking money and given their consent to advertising hoardings being located on their land. In this case, this appears to be graffiti."

A surprised spokeswoman for land owner Bill Hancock, whose land is at one of the two sites, said she was unaware of the attack when Burnham-On-Sea.com contacted her this week.

"We didn't know this had happened and are naturally very unhappy about it," she said.