The first county council snatch squads have been in action – grabbing advertising A-boards from the streets of Dartmouth.

Council workmen confiscated the signs from the Smith Street area in a zero tolerance crackdown on illegal signs which block town centre pavements.

The rest of the town faces the same crackdown once the warning letters go out, Dartmouth's county councillor Jonathan Hawkins, has warned.

But although a planter was also removed by council workmen last Friday along with the signs, the county is operating a softly, softly approach when it comes to flower tubs, Cllr Hawkins said.

'It was only really Smith Street area that was causing a problem with flower tubs,' said Cllr Hawkins. 'Foss Street is okay because that is pedestrianised and there is not an issue there.'

'This is a warning to the rest of the town. It really has been brought to this. There has been complete abuse when it comes to the signs. At one stage there were six or seven signs outside the NatWest bank alone,' he added.

County council warning letters went out to businesses in the Smith Street area towards the end of June. Around 10 days later the county moved in and took away any pavement signs that had not been removed by the owners.

Cllr Hawkins said he knew that one planter had been taken along with several signs.

'They will work their way around Dartmouth,' he warned.

There have been concerns about pavements becoming blocked with a growing number of advertising signs for the last two years.

In the past there has been a reluctance to make any formal complaints to the county council amid fears that a crackdown would also mean the loss of the town's floral displays.

Cllr Hawkins said that while the signs had to go the county was trying to take a more pragmatic view over the tubs – unless they are an obvious obstruction.

Former Blackpool hotel owners Daren Morris and Brian Yole who took over the Singing Kettle tea shop seven years ago said they had been putting advertising signs at the bottom of Smith Street 'for years'.

'We were a bit annoyed at the decision but people had got a bit complacent putting boards out,' said Mr Morris.

'We are off the beaten track and, what with the big hoarding put up since the fire opposite, we need to let people know we are here as best we can.'

Brian said they had been objecting more strongly to planters being removed from outside their premises while they were away.

'We are making an effort for the town with our flowers,' he said.

'Apparently there has to be a 1.5 metre gap on the walkway but half the pavements in Dartmouth are not that wide.'

Martyn Major, landlord of the next-door Seven Stars pub, said trade had dropped off since the removal of the signs.

'Things were getting a bit crowded on the corner but we are just off the main tourist thoroughfare and it's no incentive for people to come up,' he said.

Angela Raeburn, of nearby Artworks, said: 'The county is right in a way in what it is doing, but is doesn't help us advertise our businesses. However, I think the town generally is not as busy as last year.

'People are going straight out on the boats.'