THE founder of a pressure group has said she understands the actions of a protester who left traffic lights outside County Hall.

Yesterday, the Station Road and Wyre Road saga took a fresh twist, after a frustrated resident dumped traffic lights outside Worcestershire County Council headquarters, after the lights were stuck on red in the morning.

They were removed by the council in the afternoon, and Gaynor Amphlett, who set up a group calling for a roundabout at the site said she understood why a protestor had dumped the lights.

She said: "As the founder of the pressure group I am bound to say I'm not able to condone it, however I 100 percent understand why this has happened.

"Residents have been treated very shabbily for 19 months now and I felt it was only a matter of time before someone would lose patience with all this unnecessary delays for everyone.

"A very safe road has been made dangerous by the county insisting on the temporary lights that break down frequently."

Multiple drivers complained on Facebook that the lights were stuck on red for half an hour on Thursday morning.

Many have said that frustrated drivers were jumping through while the lights were still on red.

For months, there have been calls for a new roundabout at the site, which were rejected by the council.

MP Harriett Baldwin has also weighed into the debate, calling on developer Persimmon Homes, to get permanent traffic lights installed more quickly.

Gary Williams, head of planning and housing at Wychavon District Council, said: “We have every sympathy with motorists and local businesses and share their frustration at the length of time temporary traffic lights have been in place on Station Road.

"We are actively encouraging Persimmon to work as quickly as they can with Worcestershire County Council to agree a design and implement a permanent solution as soon as possible, which will allow the temporary lights to be removed.

"We continue to monitor the situation and will keep our options to use planning enforcement powers under review."

Jon Fraser, head of highways at Worcestershire County Council said: "The fault at the lights in Pershore was reported immediately to the traffic management company and traffic is now flowing smoothly.

"The temporary light left outside County Hall has now been removed."