Signs telling lorry drivers how to get to a new housing development have been “mischievously” removed.

Strutt and Parker Farms was given outline approval to build the home on land east of Pippins Road in Burnham despite public objections and following a public inquiry.

A reserved matters application, setting out the layout and appearance of the new homes, was submitted by Matthew Homes and approved in May.

As part of the plans all construction traffic for the site must follow a special route via a temporary road.

But the developer has become frustrated after the 12 signs it put up were all removed.

While pranksters may be seem the most likely candidates for mischief there is a history of people removing signs for unpopular developments in the district.

A spokesman for Maldon District Council said it had already received two complaints about lorries on the estate since the signs were removed.

The spokesman said: “Planning permission for the site requires that all construction traffic accesses the development site via a temporary haulage road which is being constructed off of Marsh Road.

“This temporary haulage road will be removed and land returned to agriculture after the development is complete.

“However, despite the best efforts of the developer someone is mischievously removing the signage which means construction traffic will enter the Pippins Estate.”

The signs are supposed to prevent this and leave other roads free for residents.

Burnham town councillor Wendy Stamp said the removal of signs causes a safety issue.

She said: “I have only seen the construction traffic signs up once and it will be up to the developers if they are prepared to put them up again.

“The signs are there to help the residents of Alexandra Road and the Pippins.”

The signs are due to be replaced later this week.