A mysterious prankster has struck again in the South West of England, but this time the joke has gone international. In Midsomer Norton, Somerset, several town signs have been replaced with those pointing to far-off cities in Spain and France—up to 750 miles away.
On the A362, instead of a familiar “Welcome to Midsomer Norton” sign, motorists are greeted with directions to Barcelona and Valencia, cities located along Spain’s longest road, the N-340. While locals note the sign is roughly accurate in pointing the right direction, Barcelona lies nearly 720 miles away.
Nearby on Phyllis Hill, another sign has been switched to welcome visitors to Sallespisse, a small French village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, about 540 miles from Midsomer Norton.
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This prank follows earlier swaps that began last year, involving signs from Somerset and Dorset appearing hundreds of miles away. Signs from Camerton and the Jurassic Coast appeared in Bradford-on-Avon, while Bradford-on-Avon’s sign was found on Portland, Dorset. Even within Somerset, signs have been shuffled, causing confusion across towns like Frome and Kilmersdon.
Spanish authorities highlighted the dangers of such tampering, emphasizing that traffic signs belong to highway authorities and that manipulation poses serious road safety risks. A Spanish official stated they were unaware of how their signs ended up in the UK or whether the theft had been reported.
Local councils are less amused. Midsomer Norton Town Council confirmed it currently has no missing signs, but other authorities have condemned the prank as a costly nuisance. Frome Town Council called it “a sad sign of the times,” noting damage caused during the swap and the expense involved in repairs.
Bath and North East Somerset Council reported the incident to the police and removed the incorrect signs promptly. A councilor urged residents to report suspicious signage via designated channels.
Community reactions remain divided: some applaud the prankster’s creativity, calling them a “legend,” while others criticize the costly burden on already stretched local budgets. One resident warned, “If you find it funny, don’t complain when potholes aren’t fixed because of wasted funds.”