So who wiped Bellshill off the map?

THE former mining town gave the world Sir Matt Busby, Billy McNeill and Sheena Easton.

Now residents of Bellshill in Lanarkshire claim they have been wiped off the map by bungling transport chiefs.

For three years, drivers endured closures, delays and diversions due to work on a £ 00million motorway improvements project.

Transport Scotland says the scheme has cut journey times between Glasgow and Edinburgh on the M8 by 20 minutes. But drivers heading for Bellshill have been left scratching their heads as there are no signs directing them off the motorway.

Local Nationalist MSP Richard Lyle has branded Bellshill ‘the lost town’ and demanded it be put back on the map.

He said: ‘It’s ridiculous there is no signposting for a major town in Lanarkshire. There are signs for neighbouring towns such as Coatbridge and Uddingston. I counted four signs pointing the way to one business rated a tourist attraction, but none for Bellshill where they are needed.’

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘We recognise that it will take time to become fully accustomed to the new road layout.

‘Further information on accessing Bellshill from the M8 is available by going to www.transport.gov.scot/m8 opening and clicking on the relevant journey.’