Drivers were greeted with message "Traffig O'ch Blaen"

Drivers in Great Shelford, Cambridge, were warned: "Traffig O'ch Blaen".

Helpfully for those not fluent in Welsh the temporary sign also gave an English translation - "Traffic Control Ahead".

Villagers discovered a team of workers from Cardiff was installing a sewer near the railway station and had brought the bilingual signs with them.

"They've come up from Cardiff and must have had the dual language signs in their lorry," parish council chairman Charlie Nightingale said.

"I supposed they put it out and thought no-one would notice - but they were wrong.

"I don't think we have many Welsh people in Shelford. I don't know any. But it will give us something to laugh about."

Caergrawnt am byth

David Peppermill of nearby Stapleford said: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"I know Shelford is twinned with a couple of places in France, but I didn't realise we'd gone completely multilingual."

Cambridgeshire County Council said it had received a number of calls about the signs.

A spokesman said: "Nothing to do with us. We love the Welsh but we have no plans for dual language road signs in Cambridgeshire."

The nearest expatriate Welsh society to Cambridge is in Chelmsford, Essex.

"I am sure any Welsh speakers driving through the village appreciated the gesture," society secretary Mair Thomas, originally from Gwaelod-y-Garth, near Cardiff, said.

"All I can say is, Caergrawnt am byth (Cambridge forever)."