Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Are all our road signs really needed?
Poor planning has left the countryside choked by man-made clutter such as pylons, phone masts and road signs, say rural campaigners.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) said the landscape was being lost under a blanket of overhead wires and advertising boards.

It has called on the government to encourage responsible companies to work together with local communities to tackle the problem.

Doing so would be a big step towards Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision of a ‘Big Society’, the charity said. The CPRE claims that up to 70% of road signs in the countryside may be unnecessary.