BEWDLEY Town Football Club has become embroiled in a row over advertising costs with Wyre Forest District Council - the second dispute the club has had with the council in recent months.

Geoff Edwards, the football club's chairman, was told he would have to pay £89.50 to put a small display in an empty shop window advertising a recent FA Vase match.

Mr Edwards said: "We just wanted the people of Bewdley to know what is going on in the town. We have done a lot for the area and yet they were going to charge us like this.

"It's ridiculous. If we paid this money we would have needed an extra 30 people through the gate on matchday, which kind of defeats the object."

Dale Horton, club president, said: "It was just typical of the way the council has been with us lately. Everything we do, they seem to be against us."

The empty shop, on Load Street, belonged to Wyre Forest district Independent councillor, Louise Edginton and has been empty for the past six months.

She said: "I think this situation is very unfortunate. The people at the club are working hard for the youth of Bewdley. There was nothing I could do about it."

Patrick McGill, principal revenues officer at the district council, said that if the shop was being used, business rates would be payable and Mr Edwards was made aware of this position.

He added: "The council understands Mr Edwards's wish to publicise the football club and we support this fully .

"However, we cannot treat Bewdley Town Football Club any differently to any other occupier of business premises."

He said the council had advised Mr Edwards that if Bewdley Town FC registered as a community amateur sports club the club would be entitled to an 80 per cent reduction on rates. He added that would apply for when occupying other people's business premises as well.

The club and the council were involved in a previous row following the authority's rejection of the planning application to keep floodlights up at its Ribbesford Meadows home.

Mr Edwards said an appeal had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate to try and overturn the council's decision on the floodlights.

He added: "The council does not use common sense and hides behind policies."