CALL TO BAN OLD PEOPLE SIGN

The familiar sign showing elderly people crossing the road could be scrapped because it is not politically correct. The image shows two people, one using a stick, hunched over, as they doddle across the road. But campaigners argue that it is insulting to today's fitter, healthier senior citizens.

It is now suggested that a new image be created that represents the more active old person. Another suggestion is to ditch the sign altogether and replace it with traffic calming measures.

Lizzy McLennan, of Help the Aged, said: 'Very few older people are hunched over a walking stick. They are assuming everyone who is old looks like that, and they don't.'

The current sign for 'elderly people crossing' was the winning design in a children's competition held in 1981. Gordon Lishman, of Age Concern, added: 'The motivation behind these signs - to make drivers more careful of their speed in areas with residential care homes - is positive. However, in practice a reduced speed limit in such areas, as implemented in school districts, would be a more welcome way to achieve this.'

The sign previously carried the caption 'elderly people' but this was banished in 2003 because it was deemed ageist. A spokesman for the Highways Agency said no further alterations will be made.