A story in the Bromsgrove Advertiser has led to a friendly war of words between the town’s highways boss and a village poet.

Fortunately the debate is being carried out in verse.

It was sparked by an incident where limerick writer John Slim was hit by a bus – an accident he claims was the result of speed humps being introduced.

In the paper he blamed the “silly hillocks” put there by Worcestershire highways in a bid to slow down traffic.

But his anger turned to disbelief when he received a letter from the highways chief Jon Fraser written as a limerick.

Mr Slim, who has had several books of verse published, put pen to paper straight away in reply.

He said: “I know Jon from way back so it was a nice surprise to hear from him. I was quite impressed with his letter.”

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