A COWDENBEATH businesswoman this week praised Fife Council for removing an out of date road sign which has been overshadowing her shop.

Jean Young took over Uptowngirl at the south end of High Street last April, but has been concerned at the way the huge sign prevented passing traffic from seeing her display window.

Jean said this week: "The sign meant that anyone going down the High Street from the north could not see the shop and I have been really concerned by it.

"I spoke to the Kevin Sayer, the Area Services Manager, who has been very helpful and it was taken at the weekend a new more user friendly sign put up in the middle of the week.

"I must thank Mr Sayer and the council for their help on this matter."

The Area Services chief said that updating the sign was appropriate as part of the ongoing improvements taking place in High Street.

He said: "Transportation Services have removed the massive roundabout/direction sign that was outside Uptown girl following a request from the new owner, Jean Young.

"They have replaced it with a much smaller one which will not overshadow and hide her shop front.

"It is important that there is co-operation between local retailers and the council and that has been underlined by the Shutter Art project which is ongoing."

There are other High Street improvements in the pipeline for this year.

Jean said she was a big fan of Shutter Art which saw pupils of Beath High School helping a professional artist brighten up the dark window shutters with artwork which depicts the business of the shop.

Meanwhile Jean, whose business supplies ladies' footwear and hats for all sorts of occasions and especially weddings, is moving into the busy season of spring and summer and the removal of the sign could not have come at a better time.