Villagers in Wisbech St Mary say the sign has been gone for the best part of two years and either want the sign found or a new one put in its place.

Car dealer Richard Cox has his business nearby and said he always enjoyed the sign “and quite simply I want it back”.

Parish council chairman Brian Payne refused to discuss the sign, although recent minutes confirm it had been sent to Whitemoor Prison to be repaired.

“It’s on the agenda for Monday’s parish council meeting and if you want to know more come along,” he said.

“I am not saying anything at this moment. You will understand the facts need to be determined.”

One other resident keen to see the sign returned is Shirley Knight who lives near to it and for several years has looked after the flower bed which houses the sign.

“I heard the prisoners at Whitemoor lost it,” she said. “I have looked after the area for about five years and this year put in around 15 plants, all in red, white and blue. I hoped the sign would have been back for the Jubilee but sadly it wasn’t.”

She said the sign had now been away for two years “and for a long time no one seemed to be bothered. But surely there must be the money there to have a new one made?”

The sign depicts two of the area’s interests- strawberries and orchards- and Mrs Knight is keen that if a replacement is needed it will depict similar themes.

Earlier this year councillors were told that Whitemoor couldn’t continue with the restoration work “as they could not afford the paint. After discussions it was agreed that the clerk contact the prison and ask how much it would cost for the paint to enable the work to continue.”

Cllr Payne would not confirm what happened after that.