Game of Thrones: NI Government admits to stark mistake as tourist attraction painted over

The country road provides the backdrop for the Kingsroad - the central path through the world of Westeros

Workers mistakenly painted road safety markings down the middle of the Dark Hedges, Armoy, Northern Ireland (AP)

The Government in Northern Ireland has admitted its workers made a stark mistake when they painted road safety markings down the middle of the Dark Hedges - one of Game of Thrones' most visited tourist attractions.

The country road, which is flanked by gnarled beech trees, provides the backdrop for the Kingsroad, the central path through the world of Westeros.

Although the road safety markings may mar travellers' photos, they will not have affected the show, which uses special effects to obscure the road's surface.

Before and after pictures showing the road markings along Dark Hedges (AP)

Officials admitted the markings were a mistake and said they will be scrubbed off by Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Stormont’s Department of Regional Development (DRD) said: “Following completion of a small resurfacing scheme along a 200m stretch of the Bregagh Road at the Dark Hedges, the white lining at the junction with the Ballinlea Road was extended in error.

“The contractor was instructed to remove the line and the white lining was burned off earlier today. The repair work was completed at 1.30pm this afternoon.

“Whilst there is the potential for some residual marking to the carriageway as a result of the removal, we are confident that, given the time of year and the number of vehicles using the Bregagh Road, that any such marks will disappear soon."

Last month, Storm Gertrude blew down several of the trees which line the Dark Hedges.

Additional reporting by AP