No faults with controversial new advertising boards in South Shields town centre, say council chiefs

New electronic advertising boards branded '˜unsightly' in South Tyneside's main retail area, are not on the blink '“ despite their screens being turned off.

Council chiefs say the electricity feed that powers them up in King Street, South Shields, has had to be temporarily turned off on health and safety grounds.

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A number of shoppers had contacted the Gazette to question why the 15ft-high illuminated billboards – installed in the past few weeks – were blank.

Today, the council said the lights on the boards had been dimmed due to ongoing work.

A spokesperson said: “The installation of the new digital advertising screens is not yet fully complete.

“Further work to be carried out includes the installation of panels to the rear of the screen, which will conceal the internal cabling.

“As such, work continues on site and some of this work, for health and safety reasons, requires the electrical feed to be turned off.”