A VILLAGE tearoom has been left mystified after its signs showing directions were changed without its permission.

The Village Green Tearoom, in Rivington, had paid more than £1,000 for new signs three years ago, but found on Wednesday morning that they had been changed without notice.

The signs have been changed from gold lettering pointing the way to the tearoom via the main road to white lettering showing directions through the parish chapel.

Jane Tolen, general manager of the Village Green Tearoom, told The Bolton News that she had “no idea at all” how or why the signs had changed.

She is not even aware of when the signs may have been changed but said it “must have been done very recently”.

She said: “It’s very strange. Whoever did it had to pay for it.

“It’s totally wrong whoever did it.”

The new signs have been professionally done, but Mrs Tolen does not know by whom ­— and does not think anyone would have done it without notifying the business first.

She is also confused as no one has asked her to pick up the bill.

She added: “I do not understand. I don’t know whether to ring the police, it’s all very strange.”

She is currently seeking the assistance of the parish chapel and its CCTV to try and find the culprit.

Olive Fisher, a member of Rivington Parish Council, is also unaware of how or why the signs were changed.

She said: "I do not know anything about it.

“I would have thought that the tearooms would be in charge of anyone changing their sings.”

Mrs Fisher also suggested that, as the signs are on a green connected to the parish chapel, they may know who is responsible for the switching of the signs.

But Vince McCulley, the lay person in charge of the chapel, was also struggling to find any answers.

However, Mr McCulley believes they have been in their current form for some time.

He said: “The signs have been in the white writing for some time.

“It was well before Christmas that the signs were changed. Definitely.”

He also believes that the tearooms should have been responsible for the signs.

But said they may have been changed as the original ones pointed people towards a busy road, which he described as “dangerous”.

They now point towards a safe walking route through the chapel. The original sign was intended for drivers.