A dead bird has been painted over on the A59 between Tarleton and Rufford. (JP Lancashire Post via SWNS)
By Charlie Fenton and Emma Downey
Motorists have been left baffled after discovering council workmen had painted white road markings over the top of dead animals along a busy A road.
Shocking images show how roadkill along a stretch of the A59 near Tarleton, near Preston, Lancs., have been bizarrely painted over instead of being simply moved out of the way.
At least five animals - two hedgehogs and three pigeons - were daubed over with white lines earlier this week, leaving drivers scratching their heads and other people "horrified."
Lancashire County Council - who were repainting the affected edge road lines - have since apologised for any "concern or upset" it has caused.
At least five animals, two hedgehogs and three pigeons, are reported to have been painted over earlier this week. (JP Lancashire Post via SWNS)
By Talker
One motorist, who doesn't want to be named, said he noticed a dead pigeon which had since been painted over a week before.
The motorist said: “I noticed the dead pigeon earlier in the week before the new road markings were painted.
“I then spotted it yesterday at 3:17 p.m. on the A59 on the left hand side 1/4 mile up road towards Tarleton.
“I’ve seen road markings go around parking cars before but this is definitely a first for me.
"You have to see it to believe it.”
Another motorist said: "I am horrified, you would have thought they would disposed of them properly instead of doing something like this."
(JP Lancashire Post via SWNS)
By Talker
Video footage shows the lifeless animals left by the side of the road etched with the white lines across their little bodies while motorists whizz by.
It is unknown whether the new road markings were carried out by a machine or by hand.
John Davies, head of service highways network management at Lancashire County Council, said: "We apologise for any concern or upset this incident may have caused.
"We have removed the animal carcasses and arranged for the affected sections of road markings to be repainted, and are investigating the circumstances surrounding what happened.
"Lancashire County Council has established procedures for dealing with reports of dead animals on the highway and this is not what we would expect to see."
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