IF you want a job done properly, do it yourself.Never has the old saying been more true than in Woodbridge today, where a mystery road painter has become so fed up with the faded and worn state of the double yellow lines they have resorted to painting their own.

IF you want a job done properly, do it yourself.

Never has the old saying been more true than in Woodbridge today, where a mystery road painter has become so fed up with the faded and worn state of the double yellow lines they have resorted to painting their own.

Fed up with the rapidly deteriorating condition of the existing markings, the phantom painter produced their paintbrush and set to work on their own wobbly attempt.

The worst affected areas in the town are the Market Hill, Church Street and Theatre Street – where the would-be street artist felt compelled to put brush to tarmac.

It is not known who the mystery man or woman is, or exactly when the new lines appeared, but residents in Theatre Street say they understand why they did it.

Peggy Hume, 68, said: "The lines have been bad for some time, especially since they took the road up to do work on the telephone lines.

"This is a very busy road but people will insist on parking on it, despite the fact there are double yellow lines all the way down on both sides."

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I know a lot of people like to park outside their houses to unload things and the double yellow lines do make it difficult.

"The lines need to be here though as it is a narrow enough road as it is without people parking along it."

Police say the situation in the centre of Woodbridge has got so bad they may no longer be able to enforce them unless they are re-painted.

Community police officer Pc Mick Sears said: "We've got a new traffic warden starting soon and some of the double yellow lines are very difficult to see and simply not up to scratch.

"It would be very difficult for us to issue a ticket in an area where they are like this as it would probably not stand up in court if challenged."

The regulation width for double yellow lines is 10cm per line, which may be reduced to 5cm in conservation areas, but many of the lines in Woodbridge are so faded or worn they no longer meet this criteria.

Pc Sears said: "We have been working hard to get the lines reinstated and have been in consultation with the county council about funding this.

"Now the Shire Hall work is finished it is very important people don't assume they can begin to park in these places all the time. We want to reinforce the message that a new traffic warden will be on the beat soon.

"Hopefully people will start to think a bit more about where they are leaving their cars."

Ben Redsell, a Woodbridge town councillor and Suffolk county councillor for the area, said: "Double yellow lines are usually positioned to provide easy access for emergency vehicles, yet there are now several places in Woodbridge where people are parking on them because they know they can get away with it.

"This is basic road maintenance yet, potentially, lives are at risk if it is left as it is."

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said: "There are plans to repaint the lines and this will be completed before the end of the financial year."

Are you the person who painted the lines? Have you ever felt compelled to take such drastic action in your area? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk