MerseyTravel has apologised to residents across Merseyside after adverts for The Sun were found at bus shelters.
The transport company said an “error” had occurred from their contractor Clear Channel which allowed the adverts to be placed as part of a “national campaign”.
The billboard was found in a bus stop in Moreton.
Posting on Twitter, a spokesperson for MerseyTravel said: “After images circulated on social media showing adverts for the S*n at Merseytravel bus stops, @MetroMayorSteve instructed us to have them removed and to investigate how this was allowed to happen.
“We immediately contacted Clear Channel, the external contractor responsible for this, and asked that all the posters be immediately removed.
“We have been assured that all posters were removed within the hour.
“We immediately investigated how this could have happened and have clarified that, despite controls being in place to prevent this, an error had occurred in Clear Channel’s process that allowed these adverts to be placed as part of a national campaign.
“We recognise the upset this has caused to people across the region and we apologise that this has happened.
“We are now working with Clear Channel to understand how this could have happened and to secure measures that will prevent it happening again.”
#ICYMI: After images circulated on social media showing adverts for the S*n at Merseytravel bus stops, @MetroMayorSteve instructed us to have them removed and to investigate how this was allowed to happen.
— Merseytravel #RethinkTravel (@Merseytravel) January 18, 2022
Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, took to Twitter to share his anger.
He said: "To say that I was angered that these adverts have been put up across our region would be an understatement.
“That ‘newspaper’ is not and will not ever be welcome here."
To say that I was angered that these adverts have been put up across our region would be an understatement.
— Steve Rotheram (@MetroMayorSteve) January 18, 2022
That ‘newspaper’ is not and will not ever be welcome here. https://t.co/HZALxyywYO pic.twitter.com/pTlbeZuRAH
Wirral resident Jack Hopkins shared a picture of the billboard he saw on Hoylake Road in Moreton.
He posted the image on Twitter saying the advertisement was "offesnive".
He said: "Hello @Merseytravel would you be as kind as to explain why this is being advertised in a bus stop in Moreton?
"Considering you're the local transport operator I'd expect you to know how offensive this is to people in Merseyside. Sort it out."
Hello @Merseytravel would you be as kind as to explain why this is being advertised in a bus stop in Moreton? Considering you're the local transport operator I'd expect you to know how offensive this is to people in Merseyside. Sort it out. pic.twitter.com/SNg8Md0YXt
— JD55🏴🇪🇬 (@JDonald55) January 17, 2022
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