A SAD sign of the times indeed.

The Wirral Globe story that street signs in Wallasey have been stolen left me lost ... for words.

The famous Penny Lane signs in Liverpool were always being nicked.

Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you nostalgia as many of the signs ended up abroad.

Now they are deeply-rooted in the ground. But the same can't be said of stealing ordinary Wirral street signs which have been paid for by you.

Granted, some have historic connections such as our treasured "Redcap Close" and "Smugglers Way", but it appears less romantic signs are generally bought purely for scrap metal.

This type of desperate un-daylight robbery needs to be nipped in the bud. It is as despicable as nicking church roof lead.

The unhinged masterminds behind these urban guerilla heists must plan the operation down to the last nut and bolt.

Clearly these thefts are done in the wee small hours.

And we can't expect our under-resourced police department to send out squads. So it seems we all have to be vigilantes.

While the council successfully targeted ciggie-droppers and dog-foulers, this is a serious environmental problem closer to home that needs addressing.

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GOING the extra mile is a phrase we can happily use for those people who make us proud.

Mayor of Wirral, councillor Pat Hackett agrees.

Pat has been a supporter of this column's view that we need more people given the Freedom of the Borough honour.

For now, the mayor wants to pat people on the back with his Civic Awards. One man who deserves going the extra mile (in comfy trainers) is Wallasey's Ray Buckley.

This ray of sunshine donned pink wig, nails and leggings to become Raychel for the Race for Life day.

He/she ran the 5K Run.

Now I have interviewed people taking part in marathons dressed as pillar boxes, even one as Big Ben (he did it in record time).

But Ray deserves a pink ribbon for fund-raising money for the Clatterbridge Centre.

Ray you are a jolly good fellow – hero and heroine rolled into one.

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SOME of the nation's pop stars seem to be getting more popular later in their careers.

Rod Stewart has just sold out a series of gigs at Liverpool Arena.

It takes a lot of bottle singing Do Ya Think I’m Sexy at 71.

And such is the demand for tickets for such 70s megastars that their tours are announced months in advance.

So let's hear it for Gilbert O’Sullivan who will be celebrating 50 years since he signed his first record deal in 1967. Gilbert received £12.

He will no doubt sell out the Philharmonic Hall on March 24, 2017.

Gilbert will be 70 on December 1.

I will salute the great man with his favourite tipple – a cuppa.

THE film Field of Dreams reminds me of New Brighton's regeneration – "Build it and they will come" was the message.

Marine Point has now been sold for £42m.

But I was a bit bemused by Cllr Phil "Citizen Kane" Davies' comment that this is "a huge boost for Wirral's economy and is a testament to the confidence we and the business community have in the area going forward." 

Must consult my Donald Trump self-help book on that one, Phil.

I thought it cost more than £42m to build?

Sadly, Harry Ramsden's are closing for the winter.

Their website says they have: "gone fishing". 

But they will be back in plaice next summer.

So it's heartening to see "old New Brighton" continue to thrive without a break.

Businesses across the road from Marine Point such as the Seaside Café, Riverside Bowl, the Rockshop, Arcadia, the Bright Spot and the New Palace and Adventure Land are tourist attractions, too.

Lest we forget, Wirral's Wilkie's Leisure Group has roots going back 100 years when Marine Point was just a sandcastle.

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AND finally ... great to see BBC antiques show Flog It from Wallasey Town Hall repeated.

There is no truth in the rumour that councillors were advised during filming to keep moving to avoid being auctioned off.

Peter Grant