A PENSIONER claims a new filter traffic light near his home has turned a junction into a "deathtrap".

Brian Gillibrand, 77, of Morris Crescent, Preston, believes the green light is not on for long enough and that traffic lights on the junction of Ribbleton Avenue and Blackpool Road are in the wrong place.

The father-of-two says the filter light for turning right onto Blackpool Road, from the north side of Ribbleton Avenue, was fitted six weeks ago, but is only lit for three seconds.

And once a car has moved into the position to turn right, the driver cannot see the light.

"All it needs are a set of lights on the opposite side so that you can see whether the lights are green or red once you have moved into position to turn right," said Mr Gillibrand, who lives with his wife Ruth.

"It is an accident waiting to happen. I feel like I take my life in my hands every time I try to turn right at this junction. It's a deathtrap," said the former construction worker.

A council spokesman said: "There is a problem with the light, and we are looking into it.

"The light should vary from four seconds upwards, dependant on how heavy the traffic is, to give traffic turning right a little bit of a head start.

"Not being able to see the filter light is not a fault. The idea is that once a driver passes the light, rather than looking at the lights, he or she should pay attention to the on-coming traffic.

"There are no plans to put a light on the opposite side of the road."

Four months ago pedestrian, Laxmi Ben Patel, 50, died after being hit by a HGV at the junction opposite to the one Mr Gillibrand is concerned abnout.