RESIDENTS say a serious car crash could have been avoided if traffic light repairs had been carried out quicker.

A Vauxhall Corsa and a Mitsubishi collided in Southway, Colchester, at about 5.15pm on Saturday.

One woman, aged in her 20s, was taken to hospital with head and shoulder injuries.

However, it has now emerged the traffic lights had been out of action since Thursday and highways engineers had tried to fix them on Friday.

But a fault meant the lights failed again almost straight aw ay.

Resident Carla Wilson said: “I watched them malfunction and reported it to the police a week ago saying it was an accident about to happen.

“It is such a busy road [and it] needs some sort of traffic control.”

She had called for temporary lights to be installed in the meantime.

She said: “It’s a dangerous junction.

“Most people going down there would be looking out for the red lights and if they don’t see them will just drive through.

“It’s human error, but an error that could cost lives.”

Neighbour Kirsty Garrett said: “These lights have gone down three or four times in the last two weeks alone, [it is] so dangerous.

“I [saw] these two cars moments after this crash, police were there very quickly.

“It was really bad, the cars were both seriously damaged, it was just a matter of time.”

By the time the Gazette went to print last night the lights had been fixed.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The lights have now been repaired and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“A temporary fix on Friday unfortunately failed soon afterwards.

“When confronted with faulty traffic lights, road users should exercise extreme caution and attempt to report the issue at the earliest safe opportunity.”

Faulty traffic lights can be reported by motorists on 0345 603 763 or at www.essex.gov.uk/highways.