Worcestershire County Council seems to love signs. Take a stroll around County Hall and you'll come across a forest of the things, warning you about everything from paths that may be slippery in icy conditions (well, duh) to a potentially dangerous grassy slope ahead.

This is the kind of officious health-and-safety mania we've come to expect from our public bodies, and if it was restricted to County Hall it would simply remain a source of mild amusement.

However, now the stating-the-blimmin'-obvious signage is starting to proliferate outside County Council HQ, too - and it's costing the taxpayer serious money.

Electronic signs, which can be programmed with customised messages for motorists, are sprouting up on six approach roads to Worcester, at a cost of £280,000.

The council has defended the signs - which will be paid for by central government - by saying that they will come in handy to warn of icy conditions, or to tell drivers about the closure of the Powick bridge between July and September this year.

But what will they be used for the rest of the time? The chances are they'll simply bear bland messages such as "Please drive carefully" or "Don't drink and drive". Is that really worth £280,000?

The council claims the signs will cut the number of accidents. But initial reports from drivers suggest the electronic boards are so distracting they're more likely to cause a crash than prevent one.

With many of our roads in terrible condition, there are better things to spend the transport budget on.