The mayor of Sallespisse, a quaint French village, has issued a polite request to pranksters after one of its road signs mysteriously resurfaced in Somerset, England. The sign, missing for six months, was found last week swapped in place of a “Welcome to Midsomer Norton” sign—a cheeky move following last year’s local sign swaps in the area.
Sallespisse, nestled in southwest France with a population of around 600, is no stranger to sign thefts, but no one anticipated the sign would travel some 540 miles across the English Channel to Somerset. Mayor Francis Grinet spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, expressing both amusement and concern: “While seeing our sign in an English town might seem amusing, it nonetheless constitutes damage to our local council. We have to replace them regularly to ensure road safety, and each replacement comes at a cost.”
Located less than 100 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees, Sallespisse is often passed through by tourists. Mr. Grinet speculates an English visitor may have taken the sign during their travels, adding, “He did not leave us a sign from his British village in exchange.”
READ MORE: Bath’s Long-Standing Battle Against Padel Noise Ends with Courts Approved
READ MORE: Major Regeneration Project Secures Anchor Tenant for Iconic Glastonbury Site
Despite the prank, Mayor Grinet welcomes the increased awareness of Sallespisse and encourages visitors to take photos, but urges, “Please leave it in place!” Interestingly, the Somerset town saw another unusual sign swap nearby, where a “Welcome to Midsomer Norton” sign was replaced by one pointing toward Barcelona and Valencia along Spain’s N-340—a road actually over 700 miles away.
Sign theft can carry serious consequences; in Spain, fines can reach €20,000 for tampering with road signage due to the dangers it presents. The Local Democracy Reporting Service notes the Somerset swaps follow a pattern of earlier sign exchanges involving nearby towns such as Frome, Bradford-upon-Avon, and Portland, Dorset.
While these pranks may seem lighthearted, officials remind the public that removing or altering road signs endangers safety and incurs costs for local authorities. For the residents of Sallespisse, the message is clear: admire the signs, capture the memories, but leave them standing.