A SIGN designed to calm traffic is proving a headache for pedestrians in a Darlington street.

Shoppers in Duke Street, have been bumping into the sign after council workers installed it in the middle of the pavement.

The sign is part of measures to encourage motorists to slow down, but instead it has caused chaos for pedestrians in the street.

Because of traffic regulations, Darlington Borough Council has to install signs a certain distance from the kerb.

The sign, which informs motorists about a hump in the road, had to be erected in the middle of the pavement.

Three similar signs, part of the traffic calming measures, have also been put up.

Art gallery owner Richard Hindle wants the sign removed from outside his Gallerina business.

He said: "The sign is literally right outside, in the middle of the pavement. A couple of people have walked into it.

"It is bizarre. People are walking past and laughing at it - well the ones that see it - wondering why there is a road sign in the middle of the pavement. It is extraordinary.

"I am really not happy about it. The council have not had the courtesy to tell me they were going to do it or asked if it was okay to put it there.

"I called the council and they explained why they had to put it there, but they said they won't move it."

A council spokeswoman confirmed that an official had been out to examine the position of the sign and that it would now have to be moved to give more space to pedestrians.

She said: "Basically it is part of a traffic calming scheme.

"At the junction of Duke Street and Larchfield Street there is a traffic calming measure to raise the level of the road to slow down traffic.

"Four signs are going up to advise motorists that they are approaching the hump.

"Regulations are that we have to leave so much space from the edge of the sign to the edge of the kerb. That is why it was put where it was.