A Christian group is issuing an official complaint over a fast-fit car centre which used the symbol of the cross to promote tyres, exhausts and brakes.

West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council officer Stephanie Rybak was among those offended by the advert placed nationally and locally by the Hi-Q firm.

The advert features a hand holding up a cross-shaped wheel brace with the words above saying 'At last, a fast-fit team you can put your faith in'.

The spanner has light shining from behind it - copying the way the cross is often portrayed in church.

Next to it are details of the services the garage offers such as MOTs and brake checks.

Dr Rybak, who is writing to the Advertising Standards Authority, said she found it offensive - particularly at Easter.

She added: "I think the timing exacerbates it. It's a time when we are reflecting on the passion and death of the Lord and to have that hijacked for selling tyres is tasteless."

Methodist minister the Reverend Geoff Reid, based at the Touchstone Methodist Centre in Bradford, said it would stop him from using the firm and thought it would put off people of other faiths too.

"It's not in the best of taste and I suspect it won't do them a lot of good. They could have done with being a bit more sensitive in Bradford," he said.

"I am not sure the notion of the gospel as a repair job is terribly helpful. It seems they are straying into new territory for advertising."

The Reverend Martin Short, Bradford diocesan communications officer, said: "When it comes to putting faith in a cross it has to be the one where the world's creator gave his life so that his followers can live without being afraid to die."

Hi-Q, which has branches in Bradford and Pudsey, said the advert's emphasis was born out of faith customers feel in the service.

Jacqui Lennon, account director for Connect Advertising & Marketing, which drew up the advert, said: "As a Roman Catholic, I am horrified that people have been upset by this."

She said any religious connection was unintentional. She apologised and said she would be talking to Hi-Q about pulling the advert.

An Advertising Standards Authority spokesman said no other complaints had been received about the advert so far.

He added: "We have had a number of complaints about the way religion is used in advertising and we have come down either way."

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