PARISH councillors in Holford have started fund-raising for a project to repair and refurbish the eight traditional highway fingerposts on the village’s roads.

They also want to help restore two more signs outside their boundaries on Portway, which is in Stringston parish.

Cllr Mike Wise and village hall trustee Vanessa McDonnell have surveyed each post and said some need more work than others.

Some posts on Portway were vulnerable to being struck by large agricultural vehicles and flailing, and consultation and agreement would be needed on their final restored format.

The council has been awarded £1,000 by the Somerset branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) toward the cost of work on four of the fingerposts, while a total of another £525 has been given by individual donors.

A full restoration quotation has been arranged for each fingerpost from Somerset Forge, in Easton, near Wells, which has worked on a number of other parish restoration projects across the area.

A council spokesperson said: “This means we can kick off refurbishment on one of two posts, either the one on The Triangle or the unusual one at the eastern end of Dodington Lane.

“We will be seeking funding from various other sources and donations are also encouraged with a good number of pledges already received.

“All donations will be paid into a bank account held by Holford Parish Council, ring-fenced for use on this project and are pro rata returnable if not spent.

“We welcome offers of practical support from volunteers to assist with aspects of the project.

“One key example of assistance would be that of organising local fund-raising activity.”

Somerset is one of only a few counties which retained it iconic fingerposts after the Government in the 1960s introduced modern aluminium road signs.

The posts are owned by Somerset Council, but it no longer has the funds to maintain them and has told parishes and community groups they will have to find the money if they want to keep them.

Anybody interested in helping with the project or who wants to know more information should contact Cllr Wise or Ms McDonnell by emailing to [email protected] or calling 07985 697271.

And anybody who wants to make a contribution can complete and online form and email it to parish clerk Karen Scott at [email protected], or leave it at Whistlers Hollow or The Ferns, in Holford, or collection can be arranged locally if needed.

Villagers are also being asked to let the parish council know their thoughts on colour schemes for the restored posts.

Colours presently in use include all white, black and white stripes, light grey Goosewing 241, and Raven, which is a deep, dark grey with blue or black undertones.

Somerset is believed to have the widest distribution of surviving fingerposts of any county in the country, although many were removed from trunk and roads in the 1990s.

The current cast iron fingerposts developed from the late 19th century as part of a new era of road transport.