Hundreds of Langport residents marvelled at the sight of the bat signal in the sky over Bow Street last night.
It hasn't been seen for years and is only used by the town council in times of extreme emergency. It was last switched on in 1975 when pensioner Hughy Foreacre rode his chopper into the front door at Scrivens and got his scarf entangled in the sausage machine.
But Langporters' excitment was shortlived last night when somebody on the set of the new Carry On Camping movie - being filmed on the back car park at Cocklemoor earlier this week - reminded locals that it was actually the clock's floodlights at the town hall which were shining into the sky...which have apparently been pointing the wrong way since about 1990.
"What a pity!" said a churchwarden at Huish Episcopi, "I thought help was finally on its way!" as he strapped down the lead on the roof at St Mary's.
Langport Town Clerk David Mears apologised for the misunderstanding, "we used to have a bat signal" he said, "but the bulb went in 1978 and we haven't switched it on since...now we just ring Somerton Police Station and wait for them to send a fax to Wincanton."
Pictured: Town Councillor Chris Osborne, pub landlord Eli Scott and Commissioner Doug Jones using the bat signal on the roof of the Langport Arms during a crisis back in 1969 when...as the moon landing approached...Cyril Head's shop ran out of colour televisions and viewers living in Garden City could only get Westward.
Carry On Langport understands that Batman hasn't been seen in Langport for some years and now has an 'official' residence in Pitney where he and Robin have gone into the 'creative concrete' business together. (Is that what they're calling it nowadays?)
There are no further details at present.
