A man was left speechless after a council officer told him he had to take down his Help for Heroes poster.

Joe Gunstone, 57, of New Addington, was shocked when he was told he was not allowed to have his poster up in the entrance to the block of flats where he lives.

The father-of-three said he put up the poster to support British troops after Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich last week.

He asked his neighbours if it was ok to put the poster in the front of his flats in Thorpe Close, New Addington, who said they did not mind.

On Tuesday a council officer took down the poster after someone complained about it being there.

Later on in the day the council officer returned to Mr Gunstone’s flat with a colleague and apologised for taking down the poster.

It was then put back up again.

Mr Gunstone’s father, Albert, served as a paratrooper in the Second World War and his son is looking to join the armed forces as well.

He said: “The council came round and ripped it down, rang my doorbell and instead of asking me to move it he had it in his hand. I said to him yes I put it up, I am proud of it.

“He said he had an email from someone complaining about it and he said I can’t put it up in there.

"I said if you can’t put up a poster supporting your troops what can you do.

“When they came back, they both said they were very sorry. I said to them they didn’t realise what they had done, it wasn’t a football poster upsetting people, it was a poster supporting our troops.”

Mr Gunstone, who has lived in New Addington all his life added: “They obviously didn’t like the fact I put it there, I can’t believe it.

“My father served in World War Two as a paratrooper all over the place.

“Just because you get a complaint it doesn’t mean you have to go mad and take it down. They have put it back up now.“

A council spokesman said they have spoken to Mr Gunstone about the incident.

He said: “Croydon Council is a strong supporter of our armed forces; and we were the first local authority in London to launch a community covenant with the military, to give greater support and access to services for servicemen and women and their families.

“We want them to know how much we value the contribution they make to our society and we are proud to stand up for them and to help in any way we can.

“That is why we understand that it’s important to many people to show support for our armed forces, and we have spoken to Mr Gunstone about displaying the poster in the communal hallway.”