The city full of tongue-in-cheek road signs

A fake road sign that says: "Tall Buses. If you see a tall bus approaching this bridge please shout 'DUCK!'." It has black text on a white background.Image source, Lauren Carter/BBC
Image caption,

The latest sign has appeared since a double decker bus got stuck under a railway bridge

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A council is urging whoever is putting up tongue-in-cheek signs in a city to stop the spoofs, saying they could "mislead residents and cause confusion".

Several official-looking signs have popped up across Chelmsford over the past 18 months, with the latest poking fun at double decker bus drivers after one vehicle became wedged recently.

A logo was also installed for the failed retailer Woolworths and another sign was put up suggesting the local council would provide snorkelling equipment to navigate a flooded underpass.

Essex Highways asked for pranksters to stop.

"While we appreciate the imagination and good humour being shown by this creative person in Chelmsford, we do ask members of the public to not put up false signage as it can mislead residents and cause confusion"

A mauve-coloured double-decker bus going under a low tunnel, a police officer is on the path to the right and another to the left of the image. Image source, Tracey Franklin
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A bus got stuck under a bridge next to Chelmsford railway station in August

The latest suspicious sign appeared on a bridge next to Chelmsford railway station after a bus got stuck under it in August.

Another suggesting pigeons were banned from gathering outside Chelmsford Market appeared in recent weeks, as first reported by Essex Live, external.

In January, a sign displaying width restrictions for boats passing through a railway viaduct was installed after pictures of a £1m yacht looking stuck - while moving slowly - went viral online.

A fake road sign with the words: "STRICTLY NO PIGEONS permitted in this area. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Sunday 10am-4pm. Except bank holidays."Image source, Lauren Carter/BBC
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A new sign in the city centre appears to be banning pigeons from landing

A sign between two of the viaduct's arches. It's a rectangular sign with a black border. The background is white and there's the shape of a boat within a red circle. Arrows within the sign suggests the arches are four metres apartImage source, Richard Smith/BBC
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The unofficial sign on the railway viaduct has since been removed

Eagle-eyed shoppers spotted the Woolworths logo at the entrance to the Chelmer Village Retail Park in November 2024.

The shopping centre said, despite wanting to see the former High Street favourite make a return, the sign was not legitimate.

Earlier in 2024, Essex County Council stressed it did not provide swimming equipment after a sign suggesting it would hand out flippers, masks and snorkels appeared at an underpass near the city centre.

Two months later, signs appeared stating rowing through another nearby underpass prone to flooding was prohibited.

A sign for Chelmer Village that lists all the brands within the shopping park, including McDonald's, Currys and Argos. A red Woolworths sign has also been placed on the board on the right hand side. It is underneath a sign for Next and above one for Mountain Warehouse. Image source, Elliot Deady/BBC
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The Woolworths logo mysteriously appeared at the entrance to Chelmer Village Retail Park

Many of the signs have been removed, but some of the more recent installations remain.

They appear to be authentic with similar design characteristics to genuine road signs.

It is not known who is behind them, but city council leader Stephen Robinson suggested it could be "someone having a gentle poke at the county council".

"I wouldn't condone it but it seems to be a light-hearted criticism," the Liberal Democrat councillor said.

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