WILTSHIRE County Council must hold its hand up and admit it blundered by contesting David Rowlands' compensation claim.

When he hit his head on a low road sign on a paved walkway at the Bridge Centre roundabout in Chippenham, the county should have admitted it should have put the sign somewhere more sensible and paid Mr Rowlands some compensation for his head injury.

Instead it hired a top barrister, fought the claim all the way to court and lost, landing the taxpayer with a bill of almost £10,000.

This newspaper is quite happy to stand up and fight the county council's corner when appealing for more Government money, but it does become difficult when it throws cash away in such a ridiculous manner.