DURING the considerable confusion following the opening of Blackburn's new orbital route, we were urged by Councillor Ashley Whalley simply to follow the road signs and all would be well.

On the second day of the new route, I drove from the Salvation Army hostel towards Freckleton Street and was invited by a road sign in Freckleton Street opposite Parkinson and Worden, to turn right into Freckleton Street towards King Street and then left into King Street towards Chorley.

Fortunately, I realised that such a manoeuvre would court disaster but as I waited to cross Freckleton Street down Chapel Street (through the building suppliers), to my horror, I saw two young men drive the wrong way along Freckleton Street and turn left into King Street.

They failed to see my attempts to warn them and all I could do was to wait for the head-on smash that I expected at the junction with King Street. Fortunately, nothing was coming the other way.

What astonishes me is that several days into the new year the same road sign is still there inviting motorists to go the wrong way along Freckleton Street and have a head-on smash.

D SMALLEY (Mr), Branch Road, Mellor Brook.