RESIDENTS in Halliwell say the council's decision to place two giant road signs next to their homes is driving them around the bend.

Neighbours say the signs obstruct the pavement and are an eyesore in a conservation area.

Arthur Wright, aged 59, who lives in Halliwell Road and said: "The council were going to put a 22ft traffic sign just outside my home in March telling motorists the distances to Blackburn and Wigan.

"They went as far as putting two large poles in the pavement near the junction of Halliwell Road and Moss Bank Way before we managed to get them to have a re-think."

Town hall bosses had agreed to 'look again' at moves to install the giant primary route signs after coming under pressure from Bolton North-east MP David Crausby.

Speaking at the time Mr Crausby said: "I am pleased the council are to reconsider this plan because it really is inappropriate."

But the poles remained where they were until just before Christmas, when they were moved again, this time about 200 metres down the road outside a doctor's surgery and still in the conservation area.

Mr Wright said: "The final straw was last week when I came home to find another sign outside my house. This time for Smithills Hall Country Park. It's about 10ft high and smack in the middle of the pavement so it's obstructing people trying to get passed."

Mr Wright, a self employed decorator, said: "We didn't receive any notification about this from the council and I have got nowhere when I've contacted the highways department. It's an eyesore and we don't want it here."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We have been erecting new direction signs throughout the borough as part of a project to assist visitors to the area.

"It is important that these signs are of an adequate size so that the information on them can be easily read by motorists.

"We do appreciate that these signs can be visually obtrusive for residents and so we try to place them as sensitively as we can. Unfortunately, we are often constrained by other highway features such as limited footway widths and underground services and so it is not always possible to avoid residential properties.

"We are aware of Mr Wright's concerns and will be discussing the matter with him."