KING Athelstan was apparently a stickler for fire safety regulations after a picture of his tomb decorated with a fire exit sign began circulating on Twitter.

Adam Koszary, project manager at The Museum of English Rural Life, whose tweet about a 'unit' of a sheep went viral last week, posted the snap taken at Malmesbury Abbey on social media on Sunday showing the King's wrong exit strategy.

Known by modern historians as the first King of England, Athelstan died in Gloucester in 939 and was buried in the Abbey.

Malmesbury Abbey has been contacted for a comment.