A TAXI driver has criticised traffic signals in Hereford after he was caught jumping a red light.

Leonard Powell told Worcester Crown Court that the siting of lights at the station junction on Commercial Road caused confusion.

He mistook a slip road green light for the go-ahead light but was spotted by police and stopped.

Powell, a driver for more than 40 years, said he had contacted council officers who were aware of the problem but could not act through a lack of cash.

He lost an appeal against three penalty points on his driving licence. A £100 fine was confirmed and Powell was ordered to pay £150 court costs.

Powell, aged 62, of Hand Road, Abergavenny, was a part-time taxi driver when he jumped the lights on October 20 last year. He pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a traffic signal.

Miss Samantha Crabb, prosecuting, said a video shown him by police convinced him he had made a mistake.

Defending himself, he said the lights were badly positioned. Pouring rain might also have contributed to his offence.

He argued that extra points on his licence might jeopardise his insurance, which was already £2,000 a year for a commercial vehicle.

Judge John Cavell said he could not pass comment on the highway authority but accepted that Powell had been confused.

He added that the law required penalty points for such an offence. There were no special reasons for removing them.