IT might have taken two months but a ‘signwriter’ has retaliated in war of words between Hemel Hempstead and Swindon.

Drivers using the A419 slip road at Commonhead Roundabout will have seen Tophe’s latest prank – a sign reading “Welcome to Swindon, admirers of Hemel Hempstead.”

The rivalry began when the prankster erected a sign in Hemel proclaiming: “Welcome to Hemel Hempstead – probably better than Swindon.”

The Hemel Gazette picked up the story and ran a piece comparing the two locations with reporter David Tooley cheekily referring to Swindon as a toy town after our Disney twinning.

Swindon stalwart John Brown, 73, was outraged after his sister Jean Warburton, a Hemel resident, sent him a copy.

John, who lived in Swindon for 30 years before moving to Wanborough in the late 1980s, told the Adver: “It doesn’t say much for Hemel Hempstead if it has to resort to an age old stereotype of Swindon to make itself look better.”

It was game, set and match until last week the new Swindon sign popped up on the A419 slip road.

Mr Tooley said: “We have had some interesting signs appear around the town in the run up to the election but it’s good to hear Tophe is keeping the rivalry between Hemel and Swindon alive.”

Swindon Council however has been less excited by the prank.

Spokesman Richard Freeman said: “I am concerned that this person has nothing better to do than come all the way to Swindon to put up this sign.

“It’s very sad really, he or she obviously doesn’t have anything better to do.”