15794/3BISHOPS Cannings parish councillors are concerned that two milestones along the A361 Devizes to Avebury road have gone missing and another is also in danger of disappearing.

Parish councillor Eric Clark noticed that the two stones, which date from the late 18th or early 19th century and are registered as listed buildings, were missing when he undertook a survey for the council before Christmas.

He said: "The feeling of the parish council was that they may have been removed for safekeeping while Wessex Water was undertaking road works but they have said they have no knowledge of them.

"The worry is that these things have a commercial value and have been offered for sale on the e-Bay auction site.

"A third one is now lying prone and the parish council is concerned that it could be damaged during verge cutting because it is not visible.

"I don't believe they have been stolen, because it is such a busy road."

Mr Clark said that an officer of the Milestone Society, of which he is a member, said that the missing milestones probably dated from the time the road was made into a turnpike, or toll road in the 1820s.

A metal plate on the milestones says they were cast by Burts the ironmongers in Devizes adding to their local importance.

Anyone with any information about the missing milestones is asked to contact Mr Clark on (01380) 860624.

Fleur de Rhe Philippe, county council cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: "The one that has fallen into the ditch will be fixed the next time our contractors pass."