SKATEBOARDERS and unicyclists looking for a spot to park up would do well to steer clear of a St Albans street which could boast the shortest set of double yellow lines in the UK.

The lines in Prospect Road are just 20-inches long and could prevent a street in Norwich City claiming it has the shortest set with its 24-inch double yellow lines.

One baffled resident, who didn’t want to be named, said the lines were ludicrous: “It looks stupid because they are as wide as they are long. I’m not sure who the council are trying to deter with them.

“At first I thought it was a bag left in the gutter, so I went to have a look. I’m glad my tax is being well spent.”

The lines have now been removed by a red-faced council although they say the double yellow lines were placed at a particular point in the road by their lining contractor with the intention of alerting drivers to a change in parking restrictions at the location.

Steve Deakin, Environmental Compliance Officer – Parking, at St Albans district council, said: “This act was not done in accordance with our instructions and the yellow lines have now been removed.

“New parking restrictions in the road come into effect on Monday, May 30, 2011, and normal road signs and lines have been placed at relevant points along the road to notify drivers of the different parking restrictions that will operate.”