HELLIFIELD villagers were left wondering if their world had turned upside down after the road to Settle suddenly became the route to Skipton.

The topsy turvy directions emerged after new signs were placed in the village by the Highways Consultancy.

But the group's Preston based-workers seem to have lost all sense of direction once they crossed the border.

The appearance of the 11 new signs and posts has astonished residents and they are appalled that the sign outside the church, on the main A65, directs Skipton and Gargrave traffic northwards towards Settle instead of south.

Michael Constantine, of Hellifield, said: "It is an absolute shambles. There are poles everywhere. There must be 11 all together."

And Tom, of Settle, also spotted the erroneous sign. He said: "It's a right blunder."

A spokesman for the Highways Agency apologised for the mistake said the contractors had been told to right the sign as soon as possible.

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