Millions of people who plan to use the motorways to visit family and friends over Christmas could be faced with an advertising hoarding hell, according to countryside campaigners.

Three months on from the launch of a bid to curb roadside advertising, a number of dual carriageways which were "hotspots" are being cleared of billboards - yet others remain.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England said that, while many local authorities are taking the problem seriously, many more have still to show a commitment to stamp out roadside advertising.

Meanwhile, a new opinion poll shows that three in four drivers are in favour of a ban or greater restrictions on motor-way advertising.

Action has been taken along the A5 in Shropshire, the A1 in the East of England and East Midlands, the M1 in South Yorkshire and the M6 and M62 in Lancashire.

But large advertising hoardings continue to deface the countryside beside the M40 in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, as well as the M6 in Staffordshire.

Three companies "named and shamed" in August - Tesco, Accor Hotels and Midland Mainline - have since told the CPRE that they have abandoned their use of motor-way advertising. Sixty local authorities have either endorsed the campaign, or have confirmed that they are taking action.

But the CPRE said that, worryingly, the problem seems to have grown on the M25 north of the capital since August.

Advertisers also continue to target the M40 from London to Birmingham despite repeated action by local authorities to keep the road clear.

Paul Miner, CPRE's planning campaigner, said: "We have highlighted that much of this new roadside advertising is ugly, dangerous and is breaking planning rules."

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