VISITORS to an historic Ribble Valley tourist attraction didn't know whether they were coming or going after contractors positioned a 40ft trailer advertising the delights of Samlesbury Hall the wrong way round!

It meant drivers travelling on the A677 from Preston who wanted to sample the splendours of another age were directed instead towards a Kentucky Fried Chicken car park on the other side the road.

Meanwhile, culture-seekers travelling from Blackburn had not even reached the ancient site before they were greeted with the message: 'You've just missed Samlesbury Hall'.

A spokesman for the hall said: "The contractors parked it and left before we had seen it. We just couldn't believe it. Some of our visitors had quite a laugh." The 14th century hall has been busy since it reopened in May following a £200,000 refurbishment.

Experts renovated the chapel, parlour and entrance area, thanks to £100,000 raised from visitor donations and a further £100,000 from national conservation group English Heritage.

The first hall was built in the early 1300s on the banks of the River Ribble, but was destroyed by Robert the Bruce after the battle of Bannockburn, when the Scots ransacked homes from Preston to Clitheroe.