Vandals have repeatedly obscured the “L” on a street sign for Pool Square in central Sheffield, making the name appear to read “Poo Square”. The sign marks a short road near Sheffield Town Hall, and the council says highway signs are checked and repaired when damage affects their safety or legibility.

A Freedom of Information response found that Amey’s highways teams attended eight times since taking on the maintenance contract in 2012 because the “L” was missing, plus two visits for other reported damage that may also have involved it. The council could not confirm whether each visit involved removing graffiti or repainting the letter, and said it does not hold figures for the cost of individual repairs. The article estimates the letter lasts around 639 days on average before needing restoration.