Fake signs posted at a popular beauty spot have been slammed for spreading "alarm and confusion" over a controversial new road.
Highways England have issued a statement following reports that the entrance to Rimrose Valley Park had been closed for work to begin.
The posters, taped at the Beach Road entrance to the park, said that essential work would be starting on May 29 and there would be no access to the park.
But despite the poster claiming to be from Highways England, the authority have said this is not the case.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Highways England said: "It has been brought to our attention that some notices have been posted at the Beach Road entrance to Rimrose Valley Country Park claiming to come from Highways England.
"These notices are fake and have not been posted by us.
"We assume these have been posted to spread alarm and confusion."
They also explained that no work would be carried out at the park until late 2022.
In the statement, they added: "Please be assured that we currently have no works planned for Rimrose Valley, and no plans to close any of the entrances.
"Construction of the scheme, if given development consent, will not start before late 2022 at the earliest.
"Our thanks to Rimrose Valley Friends for informing us of these notices and removing them."
Friends of Rimrose Valley have also advised people to remove the signs if they see them in the park.
On Twitter, they said: "Quick tweet to reassure you that if you spot any signs like these, take 'em down and bin 'em.
"No construction is starting, no compound is being built, no entrances are being closed.
"And to whoever did this and thinks it's funny... maybe stick to TikTok, yeah?!"
Highways England announced plans last year for a new road between Switch Island and the Port of Liverpool to manage the surge in traffic bound for the expanded Port of Liverpool.
But many locals have opposed the new highway, which will travel through the heart of Rimrose Valley Park.
Campaigners have argued that the new road will increase traffic related noise and pollution in Litherland, and harm the park.
Some locals have called on HE to consider building a tunnel between Switch Island and the port. But HE have said it would cost over £1billion and ruled it out.
A spokesman for Peel said that it had campaigned to improve the transport infrastructure around the Port of Liverpool to reduce the volume of heavy wagons travelling through the area.
