HIGHWAY bosses are being urged to take action following a spate of car accidents around a set of traffic lights.

According to local resident John Sturrock, there have been problems ever since traffic lights were installed at the junction of Vernon Street and St George's Road, Bolton.

In the past two weeks there have been three car accidents at the junction, including a three car pile-up.

Retired catering manager Mr Sturrock fears that unless action is taken there will be a tragedy.

He said: "There must be one to two accidents a week. You don't need to be a statistician to know there must be something radically wrong.

"I've lived here for five years and there were never really any accidents until the traffic lights were put up. I'm afraid there is going to be a fatality or that someone is going to be seriously injured."

Mr Sturrock, aged 57, who lives in nearby Dawson Street, said the accidents always seemed to involve drivers travelling down from Chorley New and Old Roads.

He claims that the problems are being caused because people are just not aware that traffic lights have been put up at the junction and that the lights themselves are not prominent enough -- looking more like a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Sturrock said: "If people haven't driven down here in the past nine months they don't realise that there are traffic lights here. You wouldn't believe the number of cars I see going through on red."

Mr Sturrock said he wants to see tougher action being taken against drivers ignoring red lights and wants the traffic lights to be made much more prominent.

Cllr Cliff Morris, who represents the Halliwell ward said: "We've asked officers to monitor the situation and to report back to us. Tomorrow I will ask for the report and feedback."

A spokesman for Bolton Council's Highways Department said: "We know there have been problems with these lights, particularly when they were first put in. We are looking to see if anything can be done."