A SWINDON-based company has been told to "take more care" over where it places billboard posters featuring scantily-clad women after one appeared near mosques.

The poster, for Sloggi underwear, prompted two complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after it was put up near two mosques in Bury, Lancashire, and near another in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Triumph International, which owns the Sloggi brand, said it always told its contractors to avoid using poster sites near mosques after being criticised by the watchdog.

The advert showed four models with their backs to the camera, wearing only G-strings and high heels. It also contained the slogan: "It's string time".

The ASA ruled the advert was unlikely to cause serious offence in the main.

However the "nakedness shown in the poster" could offend Muslims if placed near a mosque as it was a place of worship, the watchdog said.

Last week the lingerie firm, based in Groundwell, helped bring London to a standstill when it unveiled its latest bra to celebrate the forthcoming Euro 2004 championships.

Traffic ground to a halt as Soccer AM presenter Helen Chamberlain posed for photographs wearing the patriotic bra.

Two buses actually bumped into each other as drivers sought to catch a better glimpse of the specially-designed Euro bra, which displays the St George's Cross.

It told Triumph International to "take more care with the placing of similar posters" in future.