Council officers will be reviewing the lines, along with new parking bays, over the next two to three months.

Hugh Dannatt, Shropshire County Council’s highways boss, said today: “We are reviewing the yellow lines and parking bays to see if we can remove some yellow lines.”

Residents were outraged at what they dubbed a “rash” of yellow lines painted in pedestrianised areas and through historic streets.

They were also angered by the number of new signs going up in the town as part of the Controlled Parking Zone, which comes into force on November 20.

Mr Dannatt today confirmed that the number of new signs in the town centre would be reduced by 20 – almost a fifth.

He said: “I personally walked through the town and put pressure on the Department of Transport to relax the need for some of the signs, and we have managed to reduce that by 20.

“Poles had gone in for some of the signs, which are now being removed and we are working with the conservation officer to see if some signs that are needed can be mounted on to buildings, with the permission of owners, rather than be free-standing.”

Mr Dannatt said certain signs and yellow lines were essential to the legality of the scheme and would have to remain.

He added that it was difficult to calculate a cost for removing lines and signs at this stage.

Today Mayor Councillor Graeme Kidd welcomed the review.

He said: “It’s become clear that the multitude of signs and lines apparently needed to implement the Controlled Parking Zone, that has been under discussion and development for over 18 months, has come about because of national regulations, which are simply not suited to a historic town centre such as Ludlow.

“The actual implementation of the scheme has come as a surprise – no-one realised just how draconian and prescriptive national regulations, if taken completely literally, would be in a town like Ludlow.”

By Sally Jones