Signs warning motorists about sheep or cattle crossing the road are a common enough sight, but here's a new one - a pig's crossing, or sow's to be more precise.

The impromptu porcine crossing point has appeared in Silsden after contractors failed to repaint the lettering after digging a trench through "Slow" signs on Bolton Road, near Cringles.

Silsden Parish Council has now appealed to Bradford council to repaint the "Slow" signs on the main road through the town.

Parish councillor Michael Elsmore, speaking at last week's meeting of the parish council, said: "Because of the road works that have been done up there, it looks like a pig's crossing point. All the "Slow" signs say "Sow" because they've gone right through the Ls."

Parish council vice-chairman Councillor Lawrence Walton insisted a letter be sent to Bradford council asking for the road markings to be repainted.

Referring to a former "Slow" sign by the bus stop opposite St James's Church, Kirkgate, he said: "We had one before they resurfaced the road and they have taken it away.

"We want it back urgently."

Councillor Helen Ball, pictured, says: "We're delighted to hear Bradford council will be ensuring the sign is repainted. Hopefully, it will stop the cars speeding along here and then down into the town."

A spokesman for Bradford council's highways department says checks will be made on Bolton Road to ensure the lettering has been replaced after trench work. The spokesman adds that road markings are usually replaced soon after resurfacing work and checks will be made to ensure this is done on Kirkgate.

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