THE ongoing mystery of a misspelled sign in Alton reached a dramatic conclusion this week.

Keen-eyed residents became aware of the new sign at the Greenfields Avenue/New Odiham Road roundabout just before Christmas.

Sharing photographic evidence of the typo, Janet Burton wrote on Facebook: “Oooops! Did someone forget to check correct spelling on the sign at the new roundabout?”

This was followed by the popular hand-covering-mouth emoji.

The sign says it is five miles along the B3349 to South ‘Wanborough’, omitting the ‘r’ from the correct spelling - Warnborough.

Alton town councillor Pam Jones was quick to act, telling fellow Facebook users that she had “informed our county councillor”.

Sam Watson then described the perpetrators - thought by many to be employees of Hampshire County Council, which is generally responsible for highways and roadsigns - as “numpties”.

But, in a shocking turn, it transpired that the council was innocent.

Councillor Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport, told the Alton Herald: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have looked in to this and can confirm that the sign was erected by the developer of the new estate.

“We have requested a replacement sign, with the correct spelling.”

Now cornered, the developers were left with no other choice than to confess.

Rob Phelps, technical director at Redrow Homes (Southern Counties), which is building new houses nearby, admitted: “We installed the road sign and apologise for the oversight. A replacement has been sourced.”

That replacement is now in place. It is unknown how much the boob cost the developer.