IS it a sign of the times? Instead of being represented by a ?Puffing Billy?, Okehampton Station has disappeared from the town?s tourist directions ? and been replaced by a cup and saucer.

Dartmoor Railway marketing manager John Love thinks the use of visual indicators of refreshing beverages could be because there is a buffet at the station.

?But there is nothing to say there is a station!? he said.

There were signs in the centre of town and at the bottom of Station Road that directed visitors to the station. But they have been replaced and all reference to the railway removed.

?There is reference to the hostel and the cycle path up there ? but they have forgotten there is a railway,? said Mr Love.

?There was a further sign at the junction of Station Road and Tors Road that said ?historic station? ? but that is now replaced with a cup and saucer!?

Mr Love and Dartmoor Railway?s general manager David Payne are meeting representatives of Devon County Council?s highways department tomorrow (Friday) in the hope of resolving the problems.

?What we want is for them to change the signage altogether. We would like to see a ?Puffing Billy? emblem to help direct visitors to the station,? said Mr Love.

Barry Wedlake from Devon County Council said the cup and saucer image had probably been installed when the station was operating a buffet but had not started running trains.

?I will have to approach the situation with an open mind and between ourselves, local officers and representatives of the Dartmoor Railway we should be able to sort something out,? he said.