Farmer's maize maze sign row

Farmer Paul Swaffield said some people have spent an hour on the A354

A Dorset farmer has ploughed the word "maze" into one of his fields after highways officials removed his signs directing people to his attraction.

For a number of years Paul Swaffield has grown a maze on his farm between Dorchester and Weymouth for the summer.

He wanted the signs for his nine-week Great Dorset Maize Maze event on major routes to attract more visitors.

But the Highways Agency said "roadside advertising causes a distraction to drivers and could result in accidents".

Mr Swaffield said: "When people stop commonsense happening, [people like] us who are trying to survive in business will do all sorts of other things."

Some people have been an hour on the A354 and they don't need to go there Farmer Paul Swaffield

However, there are signs for the maze on many of the B-roads near his farm.

Mr Swaffield claimed his signs had been allowed on the major routes before, but this year they were moved by the agency.

He added: "Surely, its more distracting for people who can't find me and go up and down the A35, the A354, which is an absolute nightmare.

"Some people have been an hour on the A354 and they don't need to go there."

Maze visitor Melanie Williams said: "Things need to be signposted - how is everybody going to find them?

"It's easy for us we live here. We know where these places are."

The agency said it hopes land owners will take a responsible attitude to road safety.

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A farmer ploughs a huge word into one of his fields