The playful mystery of the Somerset sign swapper has taken an unexpected international turn. Residents and drivers in Midsomer Norton, a town in Somerset, England, have recently spotted road signs not just from other local villages but now from far-off Spain and France.
Along the A362 highway approaching Midsomer Norton, the usual “Welcome to Midsomer Norton” sign has been replaced with directional markers pointing toward Barcelona and Valencia, cities located hundreds of miles away in Spain. The sign even references the N-340, Spain’s longest road, which leads travelers along the coast. Although the sign correctly indicates the direction, Barcelona is actually more than 700 miles from the Somerset town.
Not far from there, on Phyllis Hill, a sign welcomes visitors to Sallespisse, a small village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region of France, nearly 540 miles away. The unexpected presence of these international signs has sparked curiosity and concern among locals.
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Meanwhile, officials are unsure if signs from Midsomer Norton have surfaced in Spain or France in exchange for those currently found in the town. A spokesperson for the Midsomer Norton Town Council confirmed, “We do not have any missing signs at this time.”
This international prank recalls last year’s mysterious swapping of road signs among towns in Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset. At that time, Midsomer Norton displayed a sign from Frome; Bradford-upon-Avon was marked by a Camerton sign; and Portland in Dorset bore Bradford-upon-Avon’s sign. The unusual activity prompted Bath and North East Somerset Council to report the incident to local authorities.
While the swapping may appear harmless, officials caution it is a serious safety concern. Spanish authorities, for example, impose fines up to €20,000 for stolen traffic signage. A spokesperson for Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic emphasized, “Manipulating or removing road signage poses significant risks to road safety and is irresponsible behavior with potentially serious consequences.”
Efforts to contact La Communauté de Communes de Lacq-Orthez, the administrative body overseeing Sallespisse, for comment are ongoing. Meanwhile, residents and travelers are left both confused and amused by the curious case of the international sign swap.