THE 'mystery' survey conducted by three people in the middle of Yelverton roundabout last Tuesday evening was solved this week.

The three, dressed in unmarked luminous, safety jackets, sat on chairs with tickboards. One of their vehicles was parked in the middle of the roundabout.

Enquiries established that it was a traffic survey conducted by Devon County Council although the local council, Buckland Monachorum Parish Council knew nothing of the survey at the time.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council confirmed its Highways department were conducting a survey as 'part of our ongoing monitoring and assessment of the key A386 corridor between Tavistock and Plymouth.'

Elaine Simkins, the clerk to the parish council, who herself wondered what the three people were doing on the roundabout, confirmed the county council had not consulted or contacted them over the traffic census.

She said: 'I was concerned from a safety point of view as the vehicle parked in the middle of the roundabout was causing a distraction to approaching traffic.'