I AM probably not the only local person to be greatly dismayed at the damage done recently to the Forches Cross signpost.

This is such a fine and rare example of the work of the late Joe Mitchell, formerly of the family wheelwright’s at Knowle and was fully restored by a volunteer around 20 years ago and more recently repaired by another volunteer.

Three of the five fingers are now missing, two clearly snapped off and the third removed cleanly from its mortice.

I have asked County Councillor Nick Way to check whether Devon County Council knows about this but we suspect they are not interested, preferring a new cheap, bland, plastic alternative.

Two questions arise; how did the damage occur? Perhaps an agricultural vehicle collided with it but there are no tyre marks.

Secondly, what has happened to the missing fingers? If anyone knows anything about this, I would be very grateful if they could please contact me.

We must try to have the historic feature repaired.

David Nation

George Hill

Crediton