POSTERS targeting the problems of homophobia and gay hate crimes will go up across west Wiltshire this week.

The three posters, designed by Trowbridge residents, aim to break down social barriers by challenging stereotypes surrounding gay and lesbian communities.

One poster focuses on gay and lesbians in the workplace, another looks at personal and family relationships, while the third tackles hobbies and interests.

Up to 2,000 posters have been produced by Gay Men's Health and will go up in public buildings, police stations and youth centres across Wiltshire.

Gary Jefferson, manager of the gay help group, said: "What is nice for me is the local ownership angle as it was Trowbridge people who decided what they wanted the posters to look like.

"It is a way of challenging homophobia. If there are gay people who feel isolated there are numbers on the posters they can call.

"Hopefully the posters will reduce the sense of isolation felt by many gay people in the community."

Mr Jefferson said he hoped the posters in police stations might help encourage more people to report hate crimes, helping to gauge the true scale of the problem in the county.

The poster launch follows last week's release of the diversity leaflet encouraging organisers to think about the needs of minority groups when setting up events. The leaflets were designed by the West Wiltshire Diversity Task Group which brings together a host of statutory and voluntary organisations.