Brecon is set to become the first town in the UK to trial emoji road signs, it has been announced today.

The move aims to make road signs more engaging and easier to understand, especially for younger drivers.

New signs featuring everything from thumbs-up symbols to shopping trolley emojis will start appearing across the town this month.

Among the first that will be trialled are the "speed bump" sign, which will now feature a teetering cup of coffee to warn drivers to slow down for a bumpy ride, the “low bridge" sign, which will feature a "headbang" emoji, and the "slippery road ahead" sign, which will be represented by a banana peel.

“We’re excited to bring this innovative project to Brecon,” said a government spokesperson.

“Road signs have been the same for decades, but communication has moved on. By using symbols people already recognise, we’re making signs more engaging, and, most importantly, easier to understand at a glance.”

Local resident Joe King, a big fan of the trial, told the B&R: “I think it’s a great idea. Road signs haven’t changed in forever - why not spice it up?

“Nobody knows what half of the current signs mean anyway, so why not bring them all up to date?”

However, not everyone is on board. Mona Lott, a Brecon local and frequent driver, expressed her concerns: “It’s all well and good, but what happens if I’m driving and see a ‘lollipop’ emoji near a pedestrian crossing? Am I supposed to stop for a treat, or is it just a traffic warning? Some things are just better left as they are.”

There’s also been some controversy surrounding emoji choices. Despite being a fan-favorite in group chats, the poo emoji has already been ruled out of appearing on signs following concerns that it might send the wrong message to drivers.

Some people feel its exclusion is an oversight, with one Brecon resident, Dave Squeaky, arguing: “The poo emoji perfectly represents the state of some of our local roads. It’s a missed opportunity to keep it real.”

To have your say on proposals and to see a catalogue of all the signs and their new meanings, click here.