Spelling errors on signs to Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in the US are to be fixed after locals noticed they had been wrong for years.

City bosses from Webster, Massachusetts say signs of the 45-character name had an 'o' instead of a 'u' at letter 20 and a 'h' where an 'n' should be at letter 38.

The name comes from the local Nipmuck tribe and means "Englishmen at Manchaug at the fishing place at the boundary although."

It is the longest place name in the United States and 6th longest in the world ... and a nightmare for map makers.