A KENT estate agent has spoken out to defend a fine for illegally attaching For Sale boards to public property.

Robinson Griffiths and Jackson was one of three agents to be fined at Bromley Magistrates' Court.

All three firms were found guilty of attaching signs to such places as street signs and roadside barriers.

Robinson Griffiths and Jackson was fined £900, but the managing director insisted it was not done on purpose.

Tony Griffiths, MD of Robinson Griffiths and Jackson, said: “It’s most annoying because we don’t do it intentionally. Our board man hadn’t found anywhere else to fix the board so attached it to the fence without our knowledge.

“We had no time to take it down as it was over the Christmas period when we were closed. It’s not fair, but you are up against the council. What chance do you stand?”

A spokesman for the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) heralded it as a new form of flyboarding: the practice of putting fake For Sale or Sold boards outside homes.

According to councillor George Taylor, executive councillor for the environment, the advertising caused confusion.

He added: “The boards could cause road safety problems by distracting drivers and they also make streets look cluttered.”

Bairstow Eves Countrywide was ordered to pay £1,100; Robinson Griffiths and Jackson £900; while Andrew Reeves was fined £500.

The NAEA confirmed that Robinson Griffiths and Jackson is the only one of the three who is a voluntary member of the organisation set up to protect standards across the industry.

A spokesman said: “We take these kind of issues very seriously. We will be opening an investigation into the company, and action will be taken against them if they are found to have breached our rules of conduct.”

Andrew Reeves, managing director of Andrew Reeves, declined to comment. Bairstow Eves Countrywide were unavailable for comment.