NEW Olympic signs raised a few eyebrows when they appeared on Weymouth harbourside.


Traders criticised the bright pink signs erected on Trinity Road which direct people to the two sailing spectator sites at the Nothe Gardens and Weymouth Beach respectively.


The signs display the walking distances to the sites... which appeared to get further away he closer you got to them.


A sign located near to the Town Bridge claims visitors are a 10-minute walk away from the Nothe ticketed area while another sign located 100 yards closer to the Nothe says it is a 15-minute walk.


On the reverse of both signs there are estimates to the live site. The site located close to Hope Square says the site is a 12-minute walk to the beach while further along near Town Bridge the sign states it is a 15-minute walk.


Even if the signs were swapped the distances would still not make sense because there is a five minute difference on one set and a three-minute difference of the other.


Traders have lashed out at the inaccurate signage which they say will be ‘confusing’ to those visiting the area.


Shaun Hennessey, owner of Blondz Hairdressing in St Edmund Street, said: “I just assumed they would take the signs down and swap them over straightaway.


“I think the traders and residents of the town are used to this kind of council blunder.


“Most people wouldn’t be surprised about this mix-up.”


Fiona Adams, of Waffle On, said: “I think the signs look great and are a good colour.  I can see that if you were to visit that it would be very confusing so they need to be changed.”


Mark Bennett, co-owner of Bennett’s on the Waterfront restaurant and takeaway in Trinity Road, said: “It seems a bit ridiculous but I have no problem with the signs. It is a good idea so people know where they are going and how long it will take so as long as they are changed it will be fine.”


Dorset County Council claim the signs were ‘dropped off’ by contractors and are not yet installed in their proper place.


A spokesman for the council said: “The signs are not actually in place yet as they were dropped off in those places by contractors. They will be audited today and put where they need to go.”