Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said being angry would be an 'understatement' when he found out adverts for The S*n were displayed at Merseytravel bus stops.
The Metro Mayor took to social media this morning (Tuesday, January 18) to express his anger after pictures of adverts showing Piers Morgan and The S*n were spotted across Merseyside.
Mayor Rotheram added he would be investigating with Merseytravel and the external contractor to find out how the adverts were allowed.
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In his statement, the Metro Mayor 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.
"I have asked for these adverts to be removed immediately and for Merseytravel to carry out a thorough investigation into the contract with Clear Channel to ensure things like this are not allowed to be displayed.
"I will also be seeking a cast iron guarantee that this will not happen again."
Mayor Rotheram made his statement shortly after a spokesperson for Merseytravel confirmed they had made contact with external contractor Clear Channel to remove the offensive advert.
Merseytravel later confirmed the adverts would be removed "within the hour."
It also confirmed in a public statement investigations into how it could have happened would be undertaken.
The offensive advert displays Piers Morgan and an accompanying slogan reading: "Piers joins The S*n. Hold onto your screens."
The ECHO first became aware of the advert after seeing an image of it displayed in Moreton.
The poster wrote: "Hello Merseytravel. Would you be as kind 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."
Another commenter added: "Who at Merseytravel thought that this was a good idea. Talk about disconnecting with your customers. I'm sure it will be gone one way or another very shortly."
Others wrote they had seen the same advert displayed at bus stops in Bootle.
A spokesperson for Merseytravel told the ECHO: "Overnight we were made aware by members of the public that adverts for the S*n had appeared on some bus shelters across the Liverpool City Region.
"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."
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