ROAD signs notifying motorists of a traffic ban along a tree-lined avenue made famous by TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones have been defaced.
The recently-erected signs at the Dark Hedges on Bregagh Road in north Antrim were daubed with spray paint over the weekend.
Last October, Stormont civil servants introduced a traffic ban on Bregagh Road to help protect the Dark Hedges – one of the most photographed natural landmarks in Ireland.
There are fears the ancient trees could be at risk from increased traffic and footfall.
Photographer and Dark Hedges campaigner Bob McCallion, who posted photos of the defaced signs on Facebook, described it as "pretty disgusting vandalism".
He said the signs had only been put up by Department for Infrastructure (DfI) officials within the past week.
"Our aim is to influence bodies like DfI roads service to put in measures that will get the tourist traffic off Bregagh Road and into the allocated car parks, with possible concessions to locals who have driven the road for many years without parking and causing damage," he said.
"The supplementary signage that was installed last week was a positive step towards all this.
"Vandalism like this only serves to work against the progress that has been made to date."
