OFFENSIVE posters claiming to be from a company that wanted to store chemicals in Cricklade have been appearing throughout the town.

The posters say they are from the directors of Lansdowne Chemicals suggest a nasty death for residents in Cricklade.

It come a week after residents won their battle to prevent Lansdowne Chemicals from storing hazardous substances at the Chelworth Industrial Estate.

Doug Chaplin, managing director of the Oxfordshire-based chemical company, is now considering legal action and denies any connection with the poster.

He said: "It's clearly not from us and it's getting to the stage now where I will seriously be looking at taking legal action.

"The ridiculous thing is that our planning application was refused last week anyway."

Residents were concerned that if the plan had been approved it would lead to more traffic through the town, the potential for damage to the environment and possible explosions if lorries collided.

The poster parodies this concern by boasting about death to the people of the town caused by the transportation of toxic chemicals.' Residents and local councillors have been busy pulling down the posters.

Gerdie Schaffer was part of the protest group that helped collect nearly 1,200 signatures for a petition against the plans.

She said: "I am absolutely horrified. What a disgrace. I can't imagine who would have done something like this but I can assure you that it's not anyone to do with the campaign."

The posters that displays toxic and explosive signs concludes with the message Money for us Death for you.'