DRIVERS who ignore 'no turning' signs at Otley's Manor Square junction face £20 on-the-spot fines.

Police officers will be carrying out enforcement patrols at the junction in an attempt to crack down on the number of motorists who turn left from Manor Square into Market Place.

And they will be seeking to put an end to the number of near misses caused by drivers ignoring the signs and driving into the paths of people legitimately using the pedestrian crossing.

Sergeant Lance Milburn, of Weetwood Traffic Police, said those who ignored the signs were putting lives at risk.

"People see the green man and rightly think they can go across the road but then they are confronted by some idiot turning the corner, " he said.

Sgt Milburn said there had been problems with the junction ever since the pedestrian phased lights had been introduced more than two years ago.

"At first, it was put down to drivers not being used to the scheme. Local drivers go on auto pilot and don't always notice new things and end up contravening the regulations," he said.

When drivers continued to turn left, measures were taken by Leeds City Council and clearer signs were put up.

But still people are ignoring the signs and are turning into Market Place, often narrowly avoiding pedestrians on the crossing.

Sgt Milburn said: "The scheme is not going to go away. It seems people are deliberately ignoring the signs and are putting lives at risk."

Police officers from Weetwood Traffic and the Community Action Team will be at the junction within the next few weeks. On-the-spot, non-endorsable fines of £20 will be dished out to anyone caught turning left from Manor Square into Market Place.

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