A WOMAN who has raised more than £2,000 for cancer charities is angry as banners to advertise her events are “being taken down”.

Claire Whiteley, 47, has been running non-profit spiritual and wellness events to raise money for Breast Cancer UK since being diagnosed with the disease in 2017.

Mrs Whiteley, originally from Tolleshunt Knights, has had 12 banners taken down across Halstead, Earls Colne and Tiptree.

She said: “I’m shocked because other people’s banners are right next to them.

“I wouldn’t dream of taking a banner down, we even picked one up that had fallen next to ours.”

Mrs Whiteley, who is still being treated for cancer, said the banners cost between £15 and £20 each and most of the time she has been unable to get them back. Proceeds from the events help pay for the banners.

“I know there are laws about where you can put them and I did have one lady ring me up and say ‘Can I remove the banner?’, and that is fine with me,” she added.

“Every time that happens I do get quite low, I’m not going to lie. We’re trying our best but it is hard. The last event raised about £190, it was so low.”

The spiritual and wellness events raise funds for local cancer charities, as well as Breast Cancer UK.

“On one or two occasions we have had banners pulled down and thrown in the hedge,” Mrs Whiteley added.

She believes some of the other banners may have been removed by Essex Highways.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said banners cannot be placed on council land without permission.

They said: “We can’t find any trace of our staff taking these down, certainly not on official duty.

“Posters or banners cannot legally be placed on Highways land, so no stakes in the verge or banners across trees are allowed without prior permission, which is unlikely to be given. They can be removed without notice.

“However for charity event advertising for a day or so ahead of the event, we can take a lenient approach.

“If organisers wish to put banners on private property, then of course the owners must give consent.”