Sex toys have been mysteriously appearing on power lines in the US city of Portland, Oregon

Amused residents reported sightings on Twitter using the hashtag #keepPortlandweird

Sex toys have appeared on power lines in Portland, Oregon (Reuters)

The sudden appearance of hundreds of sex toys dangling from power lines has mystified residents of a US city.

The white and orange dildos have appeared above major commercial streets in Portland, Oregon - but so far no explanation has been given.

Online forums have reported sightings of the dildos for weeks but the number has increased in recent days.

One Portland resident, Lucila Cejas Epple, told Reuters that she had first seen them at a street fair over the weekend.

She said: “You could spot them in several intersections and you could see all sorts of reactions to them. Some would blush, others would laugh, and most would take photos.”

Amused residents have taken to Twitter to report sightings using the hashtag keepPortlandweird:

A spokesman for public utility Portland General Electric said the dildos do not pose a fire hazard.