ADVERTS placed on a busy roundabout and motorway junction are an accident waiting to happen, claims a councillor.

Margaret Rothwell has called for the adverts on the Kearsley roundabout, where the M61 joins the A666 St Peter's Way, to be torn down.

But the company, Bethel, which pays Bolton Council rent for the advertising space, insists it has done nothing wrong.

Cllr Rothwell, who represents Kearsley, said: "I think it is especially dangerous because they are on a roundabout. I must admit, steam was coming out my ears when I saw them.

"I think there are implications for road safety. Should drivers really be reading adverts when coming off a slip road from a motorway?"

Cllr Rothwell, who has received complaints from residents, warned: "People are being distracted on the road and it can't be long before there is an accident."

"I believe that permission had been given for companies to put adverts on main roads last year. But I would never in my wildest dreams have thought that they would put the adverts on a roundabout."

A spokesman for Bethel Civil Engineering said: "It is not for us to comment on whether it is safe -- we don't set the parameters.

"But it is quite a common thing that local authorities have to raise revenue and let out adverts on roundabouts and highways.

"Everything we have done is in accordance with approval from the highways authority. We are a major employer in the Bolton area and think it is a positive move."

Cllr Prentice Howarth, chairman of Bolton Council's highways and planning committee, said she could not comment as she had not seen the adverts.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We have approved signs at a number of roundabouts and have not had any complaints so far. They all meet the approved criteria and help raise valuable revenue for the council."