Aqueduct Street became the talk of the area as residents wondered what had caused the road markings to break off in different directions.

Some wondered if the lines were an elaborate practical joke, while others thought the recent warm spell had actually melted them.

Student Tabby Barber, 25, noticed the lines when she went down Aqueduct Street during a driving lesson.

Tabby, of Cambridge Street, Preston, said: "I saw it last Wednesday. My driving instructor drove me down there.

"I just laughed, It looked really really silly. It was like, what's going on there? It seemed strange!"

The temporary double yellow lines appeared in Aqueduct Street and Victoria Street earlier this month in order to cope with an increase in traffic while a section of Fylde Road is closed for Network Rail to carry out essential bridge strengthening work.

A Preston Council spokesman said: "Temporary waiting restrictions have been put in place on Aqueduct Street and Victoria Street so that traffic can run smoothly around the diversion route while the railway bridge repairs on Fylde Road are being carried out.

"We have had to use yellow marker tape for the double yellow lines, which will not damage the road surface when it's removed.

"This type of marker tape has been used in the past and we've never had any problems, but some of the tape on Aqueduct Street came loose towards the end of last week, which meant the yellow lines were no longer straight."