'Important' coastal path post sold at auction

A retired wooden fingerpost which has directed millions of walkers has been bought at auction.

Exmoor National Park Authority auctioned off the post previously in Minehead, Somerset, which directed South West Coast Path users 629.75 miles (1,014km) to where the path ends in Poole Harbour, Dorset.

The winning figure has not been revealed, but winner Anna-Lisa Miller said she wanted the post for her husband who recently completed the path, also saying she was happy to have "a really important piece of Exmoor history".

Clare Weeks, from the park authority, said the auction was a "huge success" and funds would go towards supporting access and public rights of way work across the park.

Weeks said there were about 3,000 fingerposts marking the South West Coast Path, adding some at the start of the route needed replacing after enduring the elements.

She said a new fingerpost had been installed to replace the auctioned one.

"With the one that was there, we decided it would be a great way for somebody that had a link with the area or a love for the South West Coast Path that they could bid on that and own a piece of Exmoor history," she said.

The wild moorlands of Exmoor across Somerset and Devon.

Miller said she made the bid as a "really nice gesture" for her husband.

She said: "He really noticed when he was walking the path, how much effort goes in to maintaining the path.

"It's such a wonderful thing for people to enjoy and so I felt it was important to contribute."

She added they were yet to decide where they would display the fingerpost.

"We could have quite a lot of confusion, misdirecting people back to Exmoor from Farnham in Surrey."

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