Staff removing roundabout crosses abused - council

The St George's Flag has been painted on roundabouts and road signs across the country

Workers have been abused while painting over roundabouts which have been marked with the St George's Flag, a council has said.

Incidents involving highways staff had taken place in "several locations" while they were removing the markings, according to Wakefield Council.

A spokesperson for the authority said it was taking a "safety-first approach" and following legal requirements by returning such roundabouts to their original state.

Joe Jenkinson, the council's service director for highways, said: "Please don't abuse the teams doing this. They're doing it for your safety. No-one deserves to be intimidated when they're working and we won't put up with it."

Anyone abusing council staff "will be reported to the police", Mr Jenkinson said.

'Legal requirement'

The cross of St George has been painted on roads, signs and other street furniture in towns and cities across the country during the summer.

Mr Jenkinson said: "Mini-roundabouts and pedestrian crossings are marked white for safety reasons.

"The Road Traffic Act makes it a legal requirement to do this to keep road users safe.

"Anything that causes the markings not to meet the standards will need to be removed.

"This is not about being unpatriotic. It's about making sure our roads are safe."

Wakefield Council's approach echoes recent comments made by authorities in neighbouring Leeds and Barnsley, both of which said the unofficial markings posed a safety risk to drivers and pedestrians.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.