Commuters in Salford have been left scratching their heads after remembrance day signs placed at several busy junctions appear to suggest traffic will be paused during the minute's silence.
The signs have appeared at traffic lights at the bus crossroads in the middle of Swinton, and read: "Remembrance Day. Signals on red for two minutes silence at 11am. Thank you."
Locals told the Manchester Evening News they have 'never seen' motorists asked to observe a silence before by holding red lights, ad are baffled by the notices, which have been placed in three locations around the Swinton A6 junction.
Swinton is home to a large Remembrance Day parade every year, which attracts large crowds. This Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, a huge parade will assemble and leave the car park of the nearby Morrisons supermarket on Swinton Hall Road at 10.30am. It will assemble at the Chorley Road war memorial at 10.40am, where a service starts at 10.45am ahead of a period of silence.
One motorist who spotted the signs said: "Obviously it's vitally important to honour the sacrifices of those who gave their lives to protect our country.
"Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday should always be observed with respectful dignity - as it always is in Swinton.
"Large crowds come every year to watch the parade and pay their respects. But this is something I haven't seen before. I've heard of minute silences in shops, transport interchanges and in public buildings, but I've never seen motorists asked to observe a silence before by holding red lights."
But Swinton's parade holds the answer to the mystery of the signs. Councillor Mike McCusker, lead member for planning and sustainable development said: “This is done every year on Remembrance Day, November 11, as a mark of respect to the fallen because the junction is close to the cenotaph where the two minute silence will be observed.
"As soon as the two minute silence has ended the lights will return to normal. We thank motorists for their understanding.”
Transport for Greater Manchester said: "We are holding the signal on red on behalf of Salford City Council".
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