Barcelona road sign swap condemned

A mystery sign swapper has been told their actions could have "serious consequences" after switching a Somerset town's road signs with ones from cities in France and Spain.

Signs seen on the A362 in Midsomer Norton directed visitors to Barcelona and Valencia more than 720 miles (1,158 km) away.

While on nearby Phyllis Hill in the town, signage welcomed drivers to Sallespisse, a small French village more than 540 miles (869km) away in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

A spokesperson for Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic said the removal of signage was "irresponsible" and "the manipulation or removal of road signage" could pose "an undeniable risk to road safety".

A number of "welcome" road signs were swapped out with ones from other towns and villages across Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset, last year.

Signs for Camerton, near Bath and the Jurassic Coast, in Dorset, both made surprise appearances in Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire.

While a sign for Bradford-on-Avon popped up more than 60 miles (97km) away on Portland in Dorset.

Midsomer Norton was also targeted with visitors being greeted with a "Welcome to Frome" on the B3355 while a sign belonging to Waterlip in Somerset also made a cameo appearance.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), In Spain, stealing a road sign can land you with a fine of up to €20,000.

Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic said ownership of traffic signs in the country belongs to the relevant highways authority.

A spokesperson said they were unaware of how the road sign ended up in the UK or whether it had been reported as stolen.

Although it is unclear whether signs from Midsomer Norton have appeared in France and Spain, Midsomer Norton Town Council said it does not have "any missing signs currently".

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