The council hopes the route will be removed by sat-nav companies

Hampshire County Council took action after Beacon Hill Lane residents in the village of Exton, near Winchester, complained about HGVs getting stuck.

The lane narrows to just 6ft (1.8m) across so properties were being damaged by vehicles forced to back out.

It is thought to be the first time in Britain such a sign has been put up.

The area was reportedly peaceful until the popularity of satellite navigation devices - which list the lane as a link road - increased.

The signs, put up last November, read: "No wide vehicles. Do not follow sat nav. Very narrow lane."

A council spokeswoman said: "This is a unique measure for the county and is not something we would normally do."

She added that the local authority had also contacted the satellite navigation companies to ask them to take the route off their devices.