A mum is furious a damaged road sign was not fixed before smashing to the ground saying it could have decapitated someone.

The sign warning motorists of speed bumps in William Street, Herne Bay, fell from its 15ft-tall fixing.

Shelli Birkett woke up on Thursday to find the metal plate sitting on her doorstep after it was left hanging by just one bolt following storm damage.

She told KentOnline: “You can still see the hinge where it's supposed to be on, it was blowing and smashing against the pole in the wind.

“You've got cars coming, you've got people walking past all the time.

“My point is actually the size of it, it’s the same size as my toddler, that sign and it weighs 1.8kg.

“Had I been walking out of my front door on the school run at the time, during the high winds, this heavy metal sign could have decapitated one of my babies.

“The bolt wasn't even tight before it broke, it was just swinging away and it really could have killed someone.”

Ms Birkett, who lives in William Street alongside family members including five young children, says she informed authorities about the issue weeks ago.

Kent Police were informed on November 24, according to an email seen by KentOnline, which said it would flag the matter with highway officers at Kent County Council (KCC) and advised Ms Birkett to also contact the team herself.

As a result, Ms Birkett decided not to make any further complaints or chase the promise it would be sorted.

But a KCC spokesperson said the authority has no record of the complaint being passed on to highways teams.

The lack of action has left Ms Birkett feeling frustrated and she believes authorities “don’t care until it’s a problem”.

A spokesperson for KCC said: "We are sorry the sign in Herne Bay was broken during the high winds but relieved that no one was hurt.

“We have not received any complaints or concerns about this particular sign.

“A new sign will be installed as soon as possible."