Vandals have twice cut down a large banner inviting visitors to Watchet town centre which was put up in an effort to boost trade hit by a road closure.

The sign, which cost Watchet Chamber of Trade (WACET) £65, is an attempt to improve business after the closure of the B3191 coastal road reduced sales in some shops by up to 80 per cent.

“This is a complete mystery to us and all we can assume is that is the work of someone who doesn’t want Watchet to survive,” said WACET chairman John Richards.

“We are now about to get the sign back and will do absolutely everything we can to make sure that this time it stays in place.”

On Friday night vandals cut through 14 thick cable ties to pull down the sign which was then thrown onto the railway line beside the bridge.

Mr Richards said: “It was retrieved on Sunday and I re-fixed it very strongly. It was there at 7pm but at 10.30pm that evening it had once more been taken down and stolen.

“Thankfully our sign has been found thrown over a hedge by St Decuman’s church but no clues yet as to who is responsible.

I will refit the sign for a third time later today, so will everyone on their travels keep checking it is there and keep an eye out for anyone else who is tampering with it - we must catch whoever wants to destroy Watchet business. Someone must surely have seen something.

“There is a similar sign at Tropiquaria roundabout and I will put one at West Quantoxhead today.”

Avon and Somerset Police said the incident was being investigated.