Weary pedestrians in Hadleigh are seeing red after having to wait 15 minutes to cross the road due to a high-tech crossing system which went haywire.
The pelican crossing in London Road, at the junction with Chapel Lane and New Road, boasts sensors to detect whether pedestrians are waiting at the roadside.
It means the crossing will not activate when pranksters press the button to turn the traffic lights red and simply walk away.
Long wait - Tim Tomlins with Sophie and Josh at the troublesome crossing Picture: MAXINE CLARKE
But the sensors have become faulty which means the crossing keeps cancelling - and users have to repeatedly press the button.
Fed-up pedestrians have branded the equipment "technology gone mad".
Council workers put up notices simply telling pedestrians to keep pressing the button - but it is dangerous for elderly pedestrians and people with children, according to 34-year-old Tim Tomlins, of Rayleigh Road, Thundersley.
The dad-of-three said: "It's dangerous because you have to wait so long and people just cross anyway. You can be waiting there for ten or 15 minutes."
Published Tuesday October 22, 2002
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