SIGNS advertising a motorcycle enduro event that brings thousands of people to Llandrindod Wells have been removed by the Welsh Government.

Large boards promoting the popular annual event were removed from the roadside at approaches to the town from the south and north.

The poster boards for the Welsh 2 Day Enduro, which is this year being held on June 23 and 24, had been attached to road signs at both approaches to Llandrindod on the A483.

But Powys council workmen, working on behalf of the Welsh Government’s North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency, were seen removing one of the adverts from underneath a permanent brown tourist information road sign last Wednesday.

Mike Davies, chairman of the event which attracted 500 applicants and competitors from as far as the Falkland Islands and Australia, said he only learned the boards had been removed when a friend phoned him.

"I haven’t been contacted by anyone official about the signs," said Mr Davies who said the boards had been fixed underneath permanent road signs.

"I think they should be helping us. It is one of the biggest things that comes to Llandrindod.

"We’re a small band of volunteers and put on the biggest event of its type in the UK."

The event has been running since 1951 and Mr Davies said he believes the posters have been erected at the town’s approaches for the past five or six years.

"They are metre high boards and have been securely fixed underneath the road signs so they wouldn’t blow away."

He added the value of the enduro, which features motorcycles and side cars competing across 140 miles of public roads, public and private land, to Llandrindod and the surrounding area is well recognised.

The committee has published a report on the benefits of the enduro to the area and how it can work with public bodies, including the Welsh Government, to boost tourism.

Research by the organisers found the majority of competitors travelled with up to four other people to the enduro and many riders return to the area after competing in the event.

Riders and supporters can stay in the area for up to four days during the event with nearly half staying in local hotels or bed and breakfasts and many camping at the Lakeside in Llandrindod.

Most of those competing and visiting the event are from the UK and visitors can spend up to £500 on accommodation, with most spending between £100 and £200, and similar amounts on additional food, drinks and fuel.

During profitable years the enduro, which is supported by a team of 200 volunteer marshals, also makes donations to local charities.

The final special test of the enduro is staged at Crossgates and was attended by thousands of spectators drawn from the local area, the UK and further afield while the event is also covered on S4C.

Llandrindod’s town champion Jude Boutle, who is appointed on a Welsh Government funded contract, to develop the spa town as an event destination, said the enduro is doing that.

She said: "The event is going to bring thousands of people into the town as visitors and spectators. They are all going to spend money in the town, they all have to eat and many will stay overnight.

"They will be supporting the town’s economy and that has got to be a good thing."

Ms Boutle said she couldn’t comment on the removal of the signs but said her advice would be always check before erecting publicity material.

She added: "I’m not aware what the rules are but my advice to anybody who wants to promote an event would be to find out what the rules are and to talk to the people responsible."

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Government confirmed it had removed the poster boards. She said: "All road signs, unless prescribed or approved, require approval by the highway authority. This was not the case on this occasion and so the signs in question were today removed by the trunk road agency."