A strange bright orange cone to the side of Sutton High Street is proving an obstacle to shoppers.

Opinions are mixed as to weather the easily-removable cone is a health hazard.

The incongruent cone, just outside the Cock and Bull pub, is covering a small metal stump which was part of the problematic swinging benches.

However, despite the benches being removed, the post remains sticking out of the ground, with some claiming it is an accident waiting to happen.

Councillor Jayne McCoy, executive member for planning, economic development and housing at Sutton Council, said: "The stump is the remains of an old gate which closed the High Street off to traffic. It will be removed when new gates are installed, which is the cheaper way of doing things and avoids digging up the road twice. Work is due to start on the new gates later this month.

"A cone has been placed over the stump to make it more visible and we have not had any reports of it causing injuries."

We quizzed Sutton shoppers on what they thought about the cone...

John Fisher, 34, said: "At least the cone is nice and bright. To say it is a health hazard, well, its health and safety gone mad. It could be dangerous, but surely people wouldn't be that stupid."

Krys Heffersman, 46, said: "Its not a health hazard at all, but without the cone there it is. I expect if you were drunk you could probably trip over it."

Zak Piper, 19, said: "Yeah, if I was drunk I would probably kick it. I suppose the cone helps for people to see it so it could help in that way."

Summer, 39, said: " It is terrible and without doubt it poses a health hazard. That is something extremely dangerous. That thing could make someone disabled and something needs to be done about it."