A single traffic cone near a roundabout has been spotted leaning at what witnesses described as ‘an opinionated angle’.

Within minutes, analysts had declared it ‘symbolic’, ‘narratively loaded’ and, in one case, ‘basically a character with tax problems’.

The cone, which is orange in the way all cones are orange, has been seen near a puddle, a lamppost and a sausage roll wrapper, leading some to believe it is part of a very serious urban conspiracy.

‘You don’t just place a cone like that unless the story is about to start getting ideas above its station,’ said one neighbour, adjusting a sandwich.

Experts have since explained that the cone may simply be a cone, but this has not stopped the internet from assigning it a tragic backstory, a rival and a theme tune.

As ever, the map remains quiet, except for the bit where it is apparently being extremely obvious in a subtle way.