A gym has been fined for flyposting. Dragons Health Club, in Hove, was caught putting up large signs on lamp posts advertising its membership offers without permission.

After repeated requests to remove them were ignored, enforcement officers from Brighton and Hove City Council slapped fixed penalty notices on the club.

City councillor Averil Older, who made the initial complaint against Dragons' posters, said the club, in St Heliers Avenue, should have known better.

She said: "It serves them right. Dragons is a long-running and popular local business and has a very good name. I know it has to advertise but it shouldn't be doing it this way. They must know it's illegal."

Coun Older, who congratulated council officers for taking swift action, said she hoped Dragons' punishment would act as a deterrent to others.

She said: "It may not be the most serious of crimes but it's offensive to the eye and disfigures our streets. From my flat in Goldstone Villas I can see eight estate agent boards in a row of about 12 houses. We have enough street clutter around and we need less, not more."

The club was issued with five fixed penalty notices for five signs but Coun Older said she believed the company had put up double that number.

The fines must be paid by noon on January 25. The council will be watching the club's advertising closely in the next few months. If the offence is repeated, it will consider taking legal action. Offenders can face a maximum fine of £2,500 per poster.

Dragons Health Club was unavailable for comment.

Michael Logue, the council's enforcement officer, said officers would be carrying out a blitz on flyposting later this month. They will target nightclubs, which are among the biggest offenders, and visit companies which have received but failed to pay fixed penalty notices.

Mr Logue said about five nightclubs had outstanding fines.

He said: "If the fines are not paid I will go straight to court."