15220/02BULKINGTON near Seend will be put back on the map thanks to the Gazette. Villagers were furious when Wiltshire County Council replaced the signs along the unclassified road between Worton and Seend and left the village off the new signs.

When villager Tony Bradford complained to the council he was told it is now policy to have only direction signs adjacent to where the road to the village joins the main road, not along connecting routes.

He said: "When I explained it would make it difficult for drivers to find Bulkington, especially as we had already lost the direction sign on the Strand, his comment was that it was felt that most drivers used road maps and should be able to find the village."

But when the Gazette intervened the county highways department had a change of heart.

A spokesman said: "The parish council can rest assured that we will order a new sign with Bulkington on it, to be erected as soon as possible. We apologise for the oversight."

Parish council chairman Phil Coles said: "I'm very grateful for the Gazette's input into our problem. It was as if they were trying to airbrush us off the map."