CYCLISTS and slower moving vehicles have been given a longer clearance time at Top Cross traffic lights, after a cyclist narrowly avoided a collision there.

Traffic lights on the Worcester Road have been "educated" to detect the movement of traffic at slower speeds so that cars, but particularly cyclists, have plenty of time to clear the junction before traffic is given the green light at the High Street and Southend signals.

The transport department at Herefordshire Council made the changes as soon as Ledbury Area Cycle Forum drew the problem to its attention.

Steve Glennie-Smith, of Victoria Road, said he had noticed traffic moving before he had cycled clear of the junction and felt there should be a longer interval before the lights changed.

"It's because the lights are set so far back from the junction," he said. "It sounds fine now that they've extended the times."

John Colyer, county transportation manager, said they took action as soon as they received the report from the cyclists.

He said the problem was that the detectors were set above a certain threshold speed.

"We've reduced that speed threshold now and we've reduced the clearance period in case the detectors fail," said Mr Colyer.

He added that the sequence of the lights at the junction would also be changed in the next few weeks to Worcester Road, then New Street and then Southend and High Street together.

"At the same time there's a possibility of putting in a filter arrow for the traffic from Southend wanting to turn right into Worcester Road," he said.

"It's a tight site and it's never going to be brilliant but we're trying to make sure we cater for as much as we can. There are quite a lot of pedestrians, including children going to John Masefield, who cross there so we're looking at improving the route for them too."

Mr Colyer said details of the changes would be announced in the next few weeks.