Trouble for Cricket Australia over Big Ben Ashes advertisement

Cricket Australia's (CA) provocative Ashes advertisement, "Don't forget to pack the urn", featuring holographic images of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke on the historic Big Ben, has backfired as the Westminster city council has threatened legal action.

Cricket Australia's (CA) provocative Ashes advertisement, "Don't forget to pack the urn", featuring holographic images of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke on the historic Big Ben, has backfired as the Westminster city council has threatened legal action.

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"The Palace of Westminster is part of a Unesco world heritage site, and it's both inappropriate and insulting for this important location and its buildings to effectively be abused in this manner. It's also a criminal offence," Westminster city council's deputy leader, councillor Robert Davis was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

"If an organisation wishes to display advertising on it, or any other building in Westminster for that matter, they should apply through the normal channels like any right-minded person with respect for the law. Although we've not prosecuted previously as such stunts are usually over quickly, we do feel now that enough is enough and we're considering legal action," Davis said.

"We also fear that without taking a firm stance this style of guerrilla advertising will only increase, particularly in the run-up to (the London Olympics in) 2012," he said.

Metropolitan Police also admitted that breach has been committed and they are investigating the matter.