The results of the consultation to reroute the River Wye through the Golden Valley to solve Hereford's chronic traffic problems are in!

And they show that the whole idea was an elaborate hoax dreamed up by a mischievous reporter hidden away on Holmer Road.

Yes, the whole article was one big April Fool joke which we hope you enjoyed.

So it is that the only rerouting in the city of recent memory is the failed Widemarsh Street experiment - and that's the way we would like it to remain.

For anyone who missed the prank, the story is still visible below.

A potential route for a city by-pass has been one of Hereford’s most contentious issues for some years.

While Hereford’s Mayor Jim Kenyon favours the new road being routed to the east of the city, Wales last week declared their support for a road to the west, ensuring improved links to the principality.

However Herefordshire Council has now revealed a radical solution, one which they believe addresses the major issue affecting traffic in the city, namely the lack of sufficient river crossings.

The Hereford Times can exclusively reveal that our esteemed members now believe that an innovative and successful solution would be the re-routing of the river to follow a course directly to Monmouth from Hay-on-Wye and avoiding the centre of Hereford altogether.

The plan would mean that city centre bridges would no longer be needed, allowing traffic to flow from the north to the south of the city at a number of different locations.

However, it would also mean that the river would no longer pass through Ross-on-Wye and would need the south Herefordshire town to be renamed.

Ross Vegas is, the Hereford Times understands, currently the most popular option among traders and the town council.

The exact route is still to be worked out – just like the council’s western bypass – but early artist impressions suggest a new Wye corridor running through the Golden Valley and passing hamlets such as Lower Maes-Coed and Llanveynoe.

Balfour Beatty is working out the potential cost of the project and one insider hoped it would be below the figure paid out for the county council’s new website.

Results of the consultation are expected to be released at 12noon on April 1.