The administrative county of Parts of Lindsey was abolished on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972. Its area was divided between two new non-metropolitan counties: the northern area of Lindsey was placed in Humberside while the remainder passed to Lincolnshire. There followed a long campaign of protests including, but not limited to, "Humberside" signs repeatedly defaced, or removed. Some were even painted over white and the word "Lincolnshire" sprayed on top. In 1996 the unpopular decision was all but reversed, in that Lincolnshire status was reinstated for the areas that had become South Humberside, however the Lindsey name was not.