Ipswich flooring billboard replaced by rape charity message

The billboard now carries a message from the Suffolk Rape Crisis charity

A billboard that was condemned for "perpetuating the culture of rape" has been replaced with a message from the charity that criticised it.

Last month, a large advert for a flooring company appeared in Ipswich, picturing a woman in high heels and the tagline "it's so easy to lay".

Suffolk Rape Crisis criticised the billboard in a public letter.

Garage Floor Direct, based in Manningtree, Essex, has donated the advertising space to the charity.

The new message reads "it was sexist" with the words "just a joke" crossed out.

The original advert by Garage Floors Direct was quickly removed

After it was noticed by a trustee of Suffolk Rape Crisis, the charity posted an open letter on its social media channels to the company and Billboard Media, which manages the roadside advertising space.

Garage Floors Direct said it removed the billboard as a matter of urgency and donated the space to "raise awareness for their cause".

A company representative said: "We wanted to do something positive for the local area.

"We thought it would be a nice gesture to offer Suffolk Rape Crisis an opportunity to promote their work in the community."

The new billboard campaign includes the alarming statistic that "one in four women are sexually assaulted".

A spokesperson for the charity said: "We were impressed with the prompt removal of the billboard and the supportive response from Garage Floors Direct.

"After engaging in extensive conversations with them, we understand that it was an honest error on their behalf, and we appreciate their donation that enables us to raise awareness for our cause."