Give us a 'T'... give us an 'F'... village councillors aim to repair Startforth sign

MISSING letters from a village sign are still being hunted by villagers.

The “T” and the “F” are all that remain of the entrance sign to Startforth entering the village on the B6277 from Lartington.

It is thought scrap thieves have pilfered the rest of the letters and parish councillors discussed possible solutions at a meeting last week.

Clerk Janette Ireland told members Durham County Council had said it was not responsible for the sign as it was classed as “road furniture”.

Cllr Peter Worley added that the “f” on the sign on the southern approach from the A66 was only painted on.

Chairwoman Cllr Sue Ellwood said the cast metal lettering cost about £2,000.

She said: “Four bolts in the centre hold the sign together. It’s very annoying because I’ve been trying to maintain these signs – they have heritage and they look much nicer than tin lettering.”

In a bid to fix it, councillors have come up with the idea of using lettering from defunct village signs to fill in the blanks. But it is unknown whether the county council holds the old signs in storage.

Cllr Ellwood said it was important the county council were told in the meantime. She added: “We need to speak to them otherwise we would be pinching them.”