MOTORISTS in Portishead have been left scratching their heads - after fresh road markings were installed without new signs to go with them. North Somerset Council highways chiefs have been busy painting new yellow lines along the High Street But although

MOTORISTS in Portishead have been left scratching their heads - after fresh road markings were installed without new signs to go with them.North Somerset Council highways chiefs have been busy painting new yellow lines along the High Street But although the new lines have been put down, the old signs are still up, giving motorists confusing messages about whether it is legal to park or not.Fed up driver Ian Parfitt was one victim to receive a parking ticket after parking on the High Street for 30 minutes while he popped to get some shopping.Mr Parfitt said: "I parked outside the old post office where there is a single yellow line and notices saying you can park for half an hour in any two hour period."I thought it was perfectly legal to park there so went off for about 20 minutes to do some shopping."When I came back there was a ticket in my car."I checked with the officer who said as it had been issued, there was nothing she could do but that I could go to court and fight it."I do not think it is right that the council has updated the road markings yet have not put up the necessary signage."People are still parking there and should be warned that if they do, they could get a ticket."North Somerset Council spokesman Richard Turner said: "We put the new linings down in the High Street. "We have had to burn off some of the old markings and this needed a specialist machine."This machine was available at that time so we had to get on with it."The new signs to accompany the markings have not gone up yet but are on order and should be going in shortly."When the new signs go in the old ones will come down."In an ideal world the new road markings and the signs should go up at the same time.