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A mystery graffiti artist has left locals fuming after they painted bollards to look like giant cigarettes.
The three pillars on Hythe Road, Swindon, were covered in white and orange paint to very realistically replicate the tobacco product.
The ‘cigarette’ bollards have divided residents, with some saying it is ‘funny’ while others insist they are ‘disgusting’.
Some said it is a ‘brilliant idea’ and thanked the anonymous artist for ‘making the area look a bit better’.
One person said: ‘I probably would’ve preferred it not to be cigarettes if given the choice, but honestly it looks much better than it did when they were just bollards, so I’m all in favour of it.’
Another added: ‘I hope they’re allowed to stay as they are, it’s a fun little joke and it isn’t harming anyone.
A set of bollards in Swindon have been painted to look like cigarettes being stubbed out
Local resident Phil said he like the bollards, while other locals called them ‘disgusting’
The artworks have been spotted in recent days, with no clues as to who’s behind them
The bollards have been painted to look like giant cigarettes, with a very realistic design
‘I would love to see more stuff like this happen all over town and hope that artists who want to use their time and resources are encouraged to do things like this rather than stopped.’
A third person said: ‘Very funny, to be honest. Hope they stay.’
Another added: ‘Disgusting.’
A fifth person said: ‘Pathetic who’s stupid idea was this.’
Meanwhile, others have encouraged the person behind the transformation to keep their identity hidden.
Bollards painted to look like cigarettes have been spotted on the street – with some locals calling it ‘disgusting’
Local resident Phil was pleasantly surprised by the bollards when he walked past
The ‘cigarette’ bollards have divided residents, with some saying it is ‘funny’
The three bollards line a street in Swindon, surrounded by rows of family homes
The bottom of the bollard looks like a giant cigarette being put out
A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: ‘We love street art in Swindon and this is certainly a very unusual choice of design.
‘We don’t want to stub out the flame of this artist’s creativity, but the artwork obviously doesn’t align with the efforts of our Public Health team to get people to quit smoking.
‘We very much hope that passers-by who have kicked the habit don’t develop old cravings, but, if they do, we’d encourage them and any other smokers to visit the Council’s website and search ‘Stop Smoking Services’ for a range of advice and support.’
