FURIOUS residents and councillors have warned someone may be killed if action is not taken to remove a sign at a disused pub.

The three-metre high sign at The Wellington, in Thornton Road, was hanging on by a "nylon cord" yesterday, according to residents.

The metal sign is hanging from a thick wooden post and residents say recent wind and rain have caused the sign to become a potential danger to drivers and passers-by at the scene.

Mike Herbert, 61, of Thornton, said he was the fourth resident to complain about the precarious sign to Bradford Council's building control department since November 3.

The sign has been visited by a building control officer and a structural engineer, but Mr Herbert claims the sign was not deemed to be of an immediate danger to the public. But the first person who complained on November 3 was told it would be dealt with within 28 days.

But Mr Herbert disagreed, stating that the council should have taken action straight away.

He said: "If it comes down, it will kill somebody. It could crush a car.

"It is hanging on by a single nylon cord.

"It is on the main artery road out of Bradford towards Halifax.

"I just hope that the thing does not fall down.

"There are children going to Thornton Primary School nearby, mums and other pedestrians walking past that sign every day, not to mention the road traffic.

"I disagree with the decision made by the council's officers to give time to the owner to resolve the danger.

"We are due some very high winds. It's not looking good for the council on this one. They have known about this for two weeks."

Cllr Malcolm Sykes (Con, Thornton and Allerton) agrees with Mr Herbert, adding the response from Bradford Council has been "less than adequate". Cllr Sykes said: "It's so dangerous, it's unbelievable. It's a very big sign.

"It needs taking down. Ownership is irrelevant, if the sign falls down into the highway, somebody could get killed.

"It is held together by a piece of string.

"The response from Bradford Council is less than adequate."

A Bradford Council spokesman said the owner of the site had not been given a deadline to remove the sign.

But the council's building control department has been working with the owners to get it removed.

The council added that the owners had been told if they did not get the sign removed, they would receive a court order.

The spokesman added that the Council understood the sign was to be removed by today and would be checking that this had happened. The Council said if the owners were unable to remove the sign, they could do it for them.