SIGNS erected around the Malvern Hills giving details of the bylaws that govern them have been criticised for being too small to read.

Colwall resident David Little, who regularly walks his dog Champ on the hills, said the signs were making a mockery of the laws because nobody can make them out.

He explained: "These signs have either been designed for very short people with excellent eyesight, or for rabbits or dogs. You would have to get on your hands and knees to read them."

The long list of bylaws was posted on 2ft high stone columns at various locations around the hills about 18 months ago.

"I'd question where they've put them anyway," said Mr Little. "The most obvious place is in the car parks next to paying machines where they would be no problem."

Ian Rowat, director of the Malvern Hills Conservators, said they were required to publish the by-laws at various locations on the hills in order to make any subsequent prosecution legal.

"The question is do we really want a large signs telling people the dos and don'ts?" he asked.

"They are meant to be fairly discreet and there are better ways of getting the message across in a friendly leaf- let. They are there as a guideline and to make them readable they would need to be three or four times the size."

Mr Rowat said this would be unsightly and would give credence to some of the more outdated bylaws, which they are not keen to emphasise, such as rule number 21 which states that swearing on the hills is illegal.

However, those who want to find out more about the bylaws can do so either by buying a leaflet (35p) from the Conservators' office in Priory Road or on their web site at www.malvernhills. org.uk.