The future of a giant advertising hoarding hangs in the balance after its owners opposed a council decision to pull it down.

The hoarding, at the junction of Tofts Road and Westgate, in Cleckheaton, hit the headlines last month when businessman Gary Heginbottom said that jobs at his company would be lost if he could not continue to advertise.

Mr Heginbottom, who owns Artisan Fireplace Design company, said he has spent £10,000 in the last three years advertising on the hoarding which directs customers to his fireplace manufacturing firm.

But now Kirklees Metropolitan Council wants the hoarding removed to help improve the image of Cleckheaton.

A public inquiry into the hoarding's future was opened yesterday at Cleckheaton town hall.

At the hearing Bill Hanna, representing Mr Heginbottom and the board's owners Mills & Allen, said that the hoarding had become part of the scenery since it had been put up in 1991 and was not unsightly.

He said: "We have occupied this site for a number of years now and throughout this time we have never been aware of any objection to our advertisement display.

"We use this site to assist customers to find our premises and to be aware of the services that we offer to the general public. This is very important to our business and we can see no good reason why Kirklees Council should be trying to get rid of our advertisement."

However Kirklees area planning officer Edward Wills, said that the council believed the hoarding was out of place in the area and wanted it removed. He said that if the sign was allowed to stay it was doubtful that work to clean the bridge and pave the area would be undertaken by Spen Valley Civic Society.

Planning inspector Malcolm Rowe, said the decision on the hoarding's future would be made during the next month.