'Mindless violence' condemned as hedgehog sign broken

A sign asking drivers in a village to slow down for hedgehogs appears to have been vandalised.

The Somerset sign, on the outskirts of Templecome on the A357, has been knocked off its pole and broken in two.

Residents introduced two notices to remind motorists of hedgehogs on the road and protect dwindling populations of the mammal.

Carie Schuster, who looked after the signs, said the damage seemed to be "mindless violence".

She is calling for help with replacing or mending the notice, which she said was "iconic" in the village.

She continued: "Hedgehogs are hibernating at the moment, but it is really important the sign goes back up."

"They are very vibrant and I think the children in the village like to see that," she added.

The Templecombe signs were paid for by residents.

Hedgehog road signs were first introduced nationally in 2019 to try to reduce the numbers being killed.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species estimates around 50,000 to 100,000 of the animals die on the roads each year.