Dirty road signs in Preston spruced up by council clean team

Signs on main A roads have been the focus of the campaign as their clarity can impacts driver safety

A council has launched a drive to clean up dirty road signs in a bid to increase safety for motorists.

Lancashire County Council is responsible for highways across 12 boroughs including Ribble Valley, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Its special sign cleaning teams have been working their way through the county to give some of them what the authority said was a long overdue wash.

Almost 4,200 signs have been cleaned since the work began in July, covering 90 miles across the county.

The programme has focused on main A roads, where clear signs are important for keeping drivers safe and helping improve the overall appearance of the road network, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The effort is part of a broader campaign to invest in initiatives that foster civic pride by "getting the little things right" and delivering small, visible improvements that help residents feel proud of where they live.

Warren Goldsworthy, the council's highways and transport boss, said: "Dirty or damaged signs can be more than just an eyesore – they can frustrate drivers and pedestrians and even compromise safety.

"By cleaning them, we improve navigation, enhance public safety, and uplift the appearance of our streets and neighbourhoods.

"But more importantly, this is about getting the little things right.

"It's about your council delivering visible, everyday improvements that show we care and that we're listening."

Highways in Blackburn and Darwen are the responsibility of the separate all-purpose Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.