They are not known for being the most artistically inspiring sights in town centres.
But now bollards in a Halesworth street have been bringing a smile to shoppers.
The Thoroughfare's usually black bollards have been given a new lease of life, and now sport designs ranging from fruit to dragonflies to sheep.
It was the idea of Halesworth in Bloom members Jen and Anthony Eden who had seen a similar scheme in Winchester on TV.
Mr Eden said: 'The city council had paid professional artists to come in and paint them.
'And I thought 'why can't we do it for nothing?'.
'I started spreading the word and Durrants were the first to volunteer to paint their bollard.'
There are about 40 bollards on the Thoroughfare, almost half of which have been painted so far.
But the idea has proved so popular, all the bollards on the street have been spoken for with businesses signing up to makeover ones outside their shops.
The scheme works on an informal basis, with the Edens overseeing the bollards.
And while businesses are free to design them how they want, they are not allowed to be used for blatant advertising.
Each business taking part is responsible for either painting their bollard or finding an artist to do a design for them - ideally with a nature or wildlife theme.
'We're asking people to come up with a design which compliments what we're doing in the town with Halesworth in Bloom and make the town flourish,' said Mr Eden.
Mrs Eden said: 'Nearly everybody loves them. We're a small town but we're getting a lot of people in.
'People can sit outside at one of the cafes and have a drink and it looks jolly.
'When they are all done it will look really bright and people are already coming into town to see them, they're all different.'
It is hoped that the rest of the bollards will be painted soon, with them all completed before the Anglia in Bloom judges visit the town again next year.
One of the bollards already painted has been done by Edwards Restaurant.
Owner Karen Prime said: 'I saw Durrants had done theirs, and I wanted one.
'One of our customers is a retired art teacher and she painted ours for us.
'I thought it was a fantastic way of bringing people up to the Thoroughfare.
'But there is a bit of friendly rivalry between the businesses wanting to have the best designs.
'It's fun because you don't know what's going to pop up next.'
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