Passing motorists have been left baffled and bemused by a road sign gaffe which has renamed a popular Kent seaside town.

Because highway workers have just installed a new sign at the top of Clapham Hill in Whitstable directing traffic to Horse Bay, instead of Herne Bay.

The blunder has sparked accusations of incompetence and waste by highway chiefs at Kent County Council, which has just announced it wants to hike council tax by 5%.

A picture of the sign was posted on the Herne Bay Chatter Facebook, sparking claims it must have been Photoshopped.

It was then shared on another page - Overheard and Seen in Whitstable...anything goes - by Iain Heatlie, who lives 100 yards from the sign and confirmed it was true.

"They had one job to do, but I can only imagine spell check might have caused it," said the 57-year-old, who is a manager at Springfield Catering.

"It might be funny but it's still a waste of money, which the council says it hasn't got much of right now."

His post prompted numerous responses on the page, including: "OMG that's brilliant. That is the new official name for the bay now."

Another quipped: "I bet whoever done that will have a long face when they're told to go back and change it and for causing a bit of a stir in the neyyyybourhood. "Don't worry guys it won't be like that furlong. They must of been horsing around when putting the sign up."

Kent County Council has been contacted for a comment.

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