Should sign to Timbuktu stay?

The sign originally pointed to nearby Bedminster

A road sign on a busy commuter route in Bristol has been altered to show the exotic destination of Timbuktu.

We want to know if you think the spoof sign, on Hotwell Road, should be allowed to stay.

Bristol City Council says it is due to be removed soon as "it isn't making the road any safer".

But could the sign be tied up with a recent Banksy visit to the African city? Or is it just someone with a good sense of humour?

"We need the signs to be clear. Timbuktu isn't that," the council spokeswoman added.

BBC reporter Scott Ellis saw the sign on Wednesday morning, when we first covered the story here on the BBC Bristol website.

"I was only on my way to Bedminster but it was good to know I was getting nearer to Timbuktu as well," Scott said.

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A selection of your comments appear below ...

I found it very educational: its useful to know that Ashton is only 2383 miles from Timbuktu, and it tells us that Timbuktu is in a southerly direction from here! keep it there, and it will educate more young minds of Bristol.
Luke, Bristol

It should definitely be kept! It will help raise a smile in the traffic.
Susannah, Bristol

I think this sign should stay! It puts a bit of humour into travelling around the city! The council seem to be making our journeys a nightmare while on the roads so seeing something like this will cheer us up....I thought the 'Stop, Hammertime' sign was hilarious but this got taken down. Just shows that the council have no sense of humour!!
Kelly, Hengrove

Yes, keep the sign. We can dream...
Fat Hamster, Bristol

Please keep it - it's a bit of fun!
Angie, Bristol

Yep keep it!! It's a bit of a laugh!! I'm sure when people have had a long day at work and want to get home, it'll definitely cheer them up!!
Scott, Bristol

It's great, wonderful, KEEP IT!!
Kassia

Its just so Bristolian! Really goes to show this city's sense of the absurd.
Caroline, Bristol

Why get rid of it. It is nice to see somewhere hot and sunny on a road sign. I have never seen it but I reckon I would find it humorous.
James, Bristol

Keep it. It will make people smile :)
Ruth, Bristol

Just reading about this made me smile. Of course Bristol should keep it. Hundreds of us queued to see Bansky's work, obviously someone picked up some good ideas about non-aggressive subversion along the way.
Featherfairy, South Wales

Keep it. We should have a good enough sense of humour to appreciate this!!
Penny, Bristol

This is so funny, however we need to remove it. In a month it will become boring.
Neil, via Twitter

Keep the sign, it's nice to see Bristol has a sense of humour. I like to think that I'm on my way to somewhere where the sun shines.
Small and Mighty, Bristol

Keep it!
Chris, Bristol

YES!!!!! Definitely, it shows character and humour. If you moan about it, you just don't have anything more important to do. We need to laugh, especially with the world as it is. No one laughs anymore :-(
Jenny and Caroline, Midsomer Norton

Another funny/mildly subversive piece of road-sign "vandalism" is at the top of Rownham Hill, pointing down Bridge Road, near the Ashton Court entrance. The sign for the Clifton Suspension Bridge points to the "Troll Bridge". Always makes me laugh anyway!
jaysp, Bristol

Wonderful.
Jami West, Bristol

It isn't making the road any less safe either BCC... Leave it be!
'Charlie-Big-Potato'

Yes. I think little pieces of subversive art like this can put a smile on your face. A break from the mundane I say.
Justin, Bristol

Bristol is meant to be the fun city of the year. Keep the sign, as it was but up as a joke. Just smile and think to yourself, we are the gateway to the south west! Oh well, it will take the council a few years to work out a road plan with traffic lights all the way to Timbuktu.
Zeb, Bristol

Keep the sign, everybody loves it!
ToffeeApple, via Twitter