SUNDERLAND fans have heaped misery on their greatest rivals - with a pair of comedy road signs mocking Newcastle United.

One sign, on the A184 leading into the city, has an arrow pointing towards Tyneside and reads: "Sid James' Park, the biggest stadium in the 'Fizzy Pop' league'."

The other, on the road to Sunderland, says: "The Stadium of Light, the North East's only Premier League stadium."

A video of the stunt was posted on YouTube.

In it, one of the pranksters responsible laughs as the signs are revealed and says: "A little gift for our Newcastle friends.

"Our boys are doing the business. You little beauty, come on."

He then says "FTM", which can mean either "Follow the Mackems" or a vulgar expression referring to Newcastle United.

Newcastle fan John Monaghan, 35, of Heaton, said: "They are entitled to laugh, after all we laughed at them when they were relegated in 2003 and then again in 2006.

"But it's hard to find anything very funny at the moment if you're a Newcastle fan."

The signs, which were fixed to empty poles already in place, are the latest in a series of jokes at the relegated club's expense.

Recently, a banner was unfurled from the Tyne Bridge which read: "Well done Mary Poppins", referring to Newcastle manager Alan Shearer and Newcastle's relegation to the Coca Cola Championship.

And Black Cats fan Darren Lloyd, 48, from Millfield, Sunderland, put up a Toon-teasing "Shearer's £1 Shop" sign over his business in Hylton Road.

Earlier this week, Sunderland supporters made scores of bogus bids for NUFC when the club asked for offers via email.