Mayor of South Molton cleans dirty road signs

Wayne Martin has been voluntarily cleaning road signs

The mayor of a north Devon town is voluntarily cleaning local road signs in an effort to improve the area's appeal.

Wayne Martin, Mayor of South Molton, said he wanted to "embody some community spirit to improve the look of the town".

Devon County Council, which bears responsibility for cleaning road signs, said members of the community are asked not to carry out work on or near roads without safety awareness training.

Mayor Martin said that the "current constraints" placed on the council meant they "haven't the finances or time to actually carry out the role".

"It's important [not to] lose sight of the smaller things that... makes a big difference to the communities", he added.

Town clerk Andrew Coates has also been cleaning signs and says he is "very happy" to do so

The town clerk, Andrew Coates, has also helped clean the road signs.

He said it was important for the town to give a good impression to tourists and visitors.

"South Molton is such a lovely place, we thought we'd give up some time and just do it and clean them.

"We're very happy to do it, so long as the residents of South Molton enjoy and like what we're doing."

'Pride in our town'

Devon County Council said they provide a "Community Road Warden scheme" where volunteer road wardens "receive free training which teaches them how to create a safe environment to enable them to carry out a range of minor works on the highway such as cleaning signs".

A spokesperson for the authority added: "Road Wardens act as an important point of contact between their town or parish and the County Council's local Neighbourhood Highway Officers."

Mr Martin said: "I'm proud to be the mayor of South Molton.

"I have pride in our town and I was approached by several residents saying it needed to be done."