The new-look Fishergate Bollard has been toppled in the latest installment of the infamous Preston road markers saga

The new-look black version was chunkier and almost mean-looking, sporting a luminous red rose emblem of Lancashire for added increased visibility.

It was made of cold steel to make it tougher, and completely redesigned to make sure it was more visible and far less of a pushover than it has been in the past.

A surround at the base was even designed to help reduce the likelihood and impact of any collision.

But pictures posted on social media today showed that it had sadly gone the way of its predecessor.

Surrounded with traffic cones, it lays on the floor, attached to its base by a long chain, presumably to stop it rolling away - something at which its forerunner was adept.

Numerous drivers have come to grief on the bollards since they were first introduced in 2014 as part of Preston's controversial "shared space" system.

The one which took the most hits - at the corner of Corporation Street - became famous when it's own Twitter account was launched and it was even nominated as a "City Star" in the Smiles Better Awards.

The old bollard took to Twitter today and, on Inauguration Day in America, appeared to compare is successor to Donald Trump.

It is also recognised as an official tourist attraction on Google and Trip Advisor.

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