PUZZLED residents have been left bemused after a prankster spray painted the word ‘full’ over a town’s welcome sign.

Burnham town mayor Wendy Stamp voiced her concern on social media when she passed the sign in Maldon Road.

The writing has since been covered with black bin liner until a solution can be found.

Earlier in the month, someone applied a stencil sticker of the word ‘full’ on the sign.

A photo post appeared on social media to the amusement of residents.

The sticker was removed later that day.

However, there are now mixed feelings about the spray-painted message which has appeared, with some saying it goes “too far”.

Facebook group administrator Andy Turfkruyer told the Standard: “As group creator, I have to sit on the fence on most subjects but perhaps this was taken a bit far.

“Originally, it was a light-hearted dig at the powers-that-be but the latter was in the realms of vandalism.

“That is hard to support although I agree with the sentiment.”

A resident who recently moved to the area said they agreed with the message.

Heather McDonald said: “The ‘Burnham full’ sign is spot on.

“We are fairly new to the town and couldn’t get our kids into school here and our doctors is in Mayland.

“Traffic can be a nightmare and so many roads in the area are affected by new housing developments when they put in junctions – the outskirts of Maldon being a great example.

“Services have not kept pace with housing development.

“We need more school places, more doctors and a better transport infrastructure.

“What we don’t need is big developers raping and pillaging our lovely towns and villages, wiping out the greenbelts around us.

“The district council has thrown the Dengie under the bus for its own gain.

“We need planning officers to stand up to the big boy developers and councillors with intellect, impartiality and a fighting spirit to protect our heritage.

“People are fed up and angry.”