THIEVES have stolen two signs warning motorists to slow down to protect nesting ducks on the side of a road in Malvern.

The triangular red and white warning signs were removed from Lower Howsell Road between 9.30pm and midnight on Tuesday (May 5).

Nick Vafiadis, who lives at nearby Great Buckmans Farm, alerted the police and highways authority when he discovered the signs had been removed.

“It is a great shame because we have a lot of ducks nesting in the pond at the side of the road and now they will be in danger as there is nothing to warn motorists to slow down,” he said.

Mr Vafiadis contacted highways officers last year to request the signs be installed.

“In previous years the ducks had all been killed by passing motorists,” he said. “The signs certainly did have the effect of slowing down passing traffic.

“But now someone has obviously got some new souvenirs on their bedroom wall without realising the effects of removing these signs. It would be very nice if whoever has the signs could return them.”