Residents of Spondon, Derby have been left scratching their heads after mysterious - and hazardous - banners popped up over the A52 bridge.
The banners bear a simple yet puzzling message, and would appear to be a bold, and very public, apology to a person called James.
Who the apologizer is or what they've done is currently unclear. It's also up in the air whether or not this unusual declaration of fault will indeed persuade James to let bygones be bygones.
The banners are dark blue, with large white lettering bearing the words, 'I'm Sorry James'. The remorseful sentiment is emphasized further by faces painted with expressions of woe, and no further explanation is given.
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As if this wasn't a strong enough message of intent, balloons were also taped to the bridge and given glum, crying faces and, erm, pirate bibs. It's certainly not the sort of thing you expect to see on your daily commute, and has led to many drivers trying to puzzle out the story.
One person on Twitter suggested:
"Wouldn't it be great if this was just someone trolling a bloke called James, whose job it is to remove unauthorized banners from motorway bridges".
Another joked:
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"It's my mate James. I borrowed his lawnmower and blew the motor. He's well mardy".
As reported by BBC News, another sign bearing the very same apologetic message was spotted on a grass verge by the A52 in Borrowash, an approximate two miles away down the dual carriageway.
Highways England have since taken the signs down, after deeming them to pose a threat to public safety.
Senior network planner Frank Bird has since made the following statement:
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"We've asked colleagues to remove these banners as they could be a distraction to motorists.
We'd remind people not to use things like bridges or road signs as places to hang banners or posters because they are putting themselves and other motorists in danger by climbing up to attach them".
Derbyshire Police are also not too happy about the signs, and have "actively discouraged" others from following suit. They have also warned members of the public they could potentially face prosecution in the event of an accident.
Derbyshire Police have also cautioned that these signs could be regarded to breach planning regulations, meaning the local authority could take legal action against the person who displayed them.
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