A worker painted yellow lines over a squashed hedgehog rather than move it off the road.
Shocked mother-of-four Allison Hart could not believe the dead animal was not removed by the painters, who blitzed Hartlepool streets ahead of hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving to see the Tall Ships Races.
She was shown the hedgehog with a yellow stripe across its flattened belly outside the home of her mother-in-law Margaret Mcleod in Hart Lane.
The 37-year-old, who works in a florist and fruit shop, took a picture on her mobile phone and has shown it to disgusted customers.
She said: ''It's unbelievable.
''The whole town went double yellow line mad for the Tall Ships.
''Someone walking with a liner went over the hedgehog with yellow paint.
''They knocked on people's doors to get them to move their cars, but whoever did this didn't even ask for a shovel to move the poor hedgehog.
''All they had to do is kick it to one side.
''It's shocking really.''
A Hartlepool Borough Council spokeswoman said: ''Contractors have done a phenomenal amount of line painting in and around the town in preparation for the Tall Ships Races.
''They have done an exceptional job.
''This is obviously an unfortunate incident, but it was the only one reported during the massive project.''
i know i shouldn't laugh but when i read "A worker painted yellow lines over a squashed hedgehog rather than move it off the road. " it made me lmao. anyways here's a pic of it
