AN INTERNET message board set-up to serve a Suffolk community has been permanently closed down because of “inappropriate” posts and links to x-rated websites.

AN INTERNET message board set-up to serve a Suffolk community has been permanently closed down because of “inappropriate” posts and links to x-rated websites.

Members of Sudbury Town Council were left incensed after the online forum was repeatedly targeted by people making abusive and improper suggestions.

The message board, which was also used to promote websites containing adult material, has now been shut down.

Town council clerk Sue Brotherwood said it was a great shame that a handful of people had ruined the enjoyment of the forum - on sudburysuffolk.com - for the majority of people who visit the site.

“We have had people from as far away as America use the message board to try and get in touch with long-lost friends, but unfortunately we had no choice but to close it down,” she said.

“It is a real shame but we are just not prepared to take the chance because inappropriate messages like the ones we were getting are just not what the site should be used for.

“If people have any queries they can still send messages through the advice centre, but we will not reopen the message board and give people the opportunity to post messages like that.”

The message board was temporarily closed in November last year, when the problems started. It was reopened, but closed again recently after the messages began to reappear.

Dave Muskett, who runs the site on behalf of the town council, said the only way round the problem would be to set users up with a password to enter the message board - a solution he does not think would be feasible.

“The messages have been popping up every now and again, but because it is an open server it does tend to get attention from people,” he said.

“We tried to monitor the message board and would clear the inappropriate messages as often as we could, but too many people were using it for the wrong reasons so we had no choice but to close it down.”

The website, which was set up six-years-ago and now attracts in the region of 150,000 'hits' every month, offers all sorts of advice and information about the town, including places to eat, drink, forthcoming events, local walks, farmers' markets, and transport. It also includes links to other websites, such as local businesses.

Mr Muskett added: “We run the website on behalf of the town council, but it a real community website and the message board is used by a lot of people, so it is a real shame it has had to close.”