HOPEFULLY over-keen environmentalists and graffiti vandals will leave Roseberry Topping’s Shaun the Sheep, dressed as a hiker, alone.

I certainly object to ugly scrawling on structures, be they natural or artificial. There are, however, exceptions when the graffiti is artistic, amusing, or ironic, and Karl Striker’s latest creation on Roseberry Topping’s triangulation pillar (trig point) fills all three criteria.

At one time, there were as many as 6,500 trig points throughout the UK, erected by the Ordnance Survey for accurate map-making. But, with the development of aerial photography, digital mapping, lasers and satellites, they became redundant.

As they were largely made of cast concrete, it was suggested most trig points should be removed. But, this was met with widespread and successful protest because, over the years, country lovers had taken them to heart because of their use as landmarks and their symmetrical, reassuring appearance.

The North York Moors National Park is full of sheep and hikers, so who better than Shaun, suitably attired, to adorn our most visited and prominent trig point.

I’m sure Shaun enjoys life on Roseberry’s summit. Let him enjoy the view undisturbed!

Steve Kay, Redcar & Cleveland Councillor