Thieves were not responsible for the disappearance of banners advertising the weekly Bluebird market in Dover after all, it has been revealed.

The market, which takes place in the Market Square and Cannon Street every Tuesday, is organised by the Dover Town Team as one of the initiatives to bring more business, and more visitors, to the town centre.

On Thursday Town Team member David Little reported that four banners had been “sabotaged”. The cable ties had been cut and the banners removed.

“Who are these people?” he asked. “The banners were at Pencester Road, Castle Street, Castle Hill and Bridge Street. All gone today. They were all on railings. The same thing happened last year. It’s sickening.

“Time and money are wasted because of these idiots. It makes you wonder why you bother sometimes."

But later in the day he was told that the banners had been removed by Kent Highways officials, because they were unauthorised.

"We've had notification that Kent Highways removed them," he said. "OK rules are rules but surely the function of KCC is to encourage enterprise not act as a deterrent. I'll just have to get permission elsewhere."