Florist Allison Hart said she was shocked to see the dead animal with lines on its back in Hartlepool, Cleveland, and sent a photograph of it to media outlets, Sky News reports.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw the hedgehog — it's disgraceful," said Ms Hart, who has been showing the photograph to customers in her store.

Workers were painting the roads ahead of the Tall Ships Races — a three day festival which normally brings some one million visitors to the town.

"All they had to do is kick it to one side. It's shocking really," Ms Hart said.

A council spokeswoman defended the road workers, saying the incident was "the only one reported during the massive project".

"Contractors have done a phenomenal amount of line painting in and around the town in preparation for the Tall Ships Races," the spokeswoman said.

"They have done an exceptional job [but] this is obviously an unfortunate incident."

The hedgehog has since been disposed of.