Motorists in Telford are on a road to nowhere after workmen installed signs leading them back to where they came from. People who arrive at Preston, in Telford, face a 16-mile diversion – without getting anywhere.

The diversion starts amid a barrage of signs explaining that the road will be closed for four weeks for essential work. Motorists are diverted beside a road sign pointing out routes to Preston and Kynnersley, Donnington and Newport or Horton and Hadley.

Before setting off, I drove to the point at which the road was actually closed. Two men in fluorescent yellow jackets were working with equipment which seemed to indicate they knew what they were doing. The person who installed the diversion signs, however, evidently did not.

Off I drove. It should have been a simple enough assignment. Heading from one side of a Telford village to the other should be easy. What could possibly go wrong?

The road led me along a rural lane, bordered by hedges and a grassy embankment, to the Queens Head pub. There, a chicane took me left then right and I continued on to Wheat Leasowes.

The road signs diverted me to Leegomery Island and instructed me to take the fourth exit. I stopped, momentarily, behind a the driver of a green tractor who had clearly been down that road before.

I continued, behind the tractor, to Shawbirch roundabout and took a right – at which point the man in the green tractor gave up, and headed elsewhere.

Then it was along the A442 to Crudgington, through Long Lane, past the Buck’s Head pub and straight on. I drove past Dairy Crest, took a sharp right on the B5062 to Edgmond and carried on.

At Crudgington Moor Lane, I saw another sign warning of the closed road, but was directed ever onward. I finally reached my destination, at Cherrington Lane, only to be told the road there was closed as well.

Diversions were in place, pointing in exactly the opposite direction. So back I trooped . . .

Eight miles later, I reached my original destination and met the same two workmen who had seen me off 33 minutes early.

I got out of my car, scratched my head quizzically, and one of them approached.

“You all right mate? Can I help you?”  I looked back at him and given my experiences of the previous 33 minutes, methodically and politely replied: “No. I don’t think you can.”

Afterwards, a spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council said: “We’re reviewing the signage and will make any changes as quickly as possible. Clearly, we apologise for any ambiguity in the signage.”

By Andy Richardson