Cornwall tourist chief condemns sign telling visitors to ‘f**k off’

Officials expect 80,000 visitors to the county over the coming week

A Cornwall tourism chief has condemned as “offensive and unforgivable” a sign that reportedly told visitors travelling to the county over the weekend to “f**k off”.

The hand-made banner was allegedly spotted over the A30 at Bodmin – one of the main roads into Cornwall – on Saturday, as thousands flocked to the seaside following further easing of lockdown restrictions.

Images widely shared online purported to show three people with their faces covered and holding the sign, which read: “Turn around and f**k off”.

The sign appeared on Saturday, when pubs and other venues were allowed to reopen for the first time in months. Tourism officials said they expected up to 80,000 visitors over the coming week following the reopening of pubs, bars and restaurants.

“I don’t like to see signs like the one we saw on the A30 yesterday. It is being offensive to a large group of people, Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, told Cornwall Live.

“I find it unforgivable. It’s accusing people before they even arrive.”

Mr Bell said the tourism industry in Cornwall was in a “battle” to save thousands of jobs after months of lost revenue as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Many business owners have welcomed the return of tourists who will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.

Nikki Mulliner, 38, general manager of the Shipwrights pub in Plaidstow, said: “I was a little apprehensive but its been lovely to have so many people stop and think about what they are doing because you don’t expect that in a pub.

Sign told visitors to ‘f**k off’

“People have been enjoying sitting at a table and having their drinks bought to them.”

But some locals have reacted angrily to the reopening of seaside towns over fears that outsiders visiting could cause a spike in infections.