A number of drivers were reportedly involved in a near-miss crash last night as three sets of traffic lights stopped working.

The problem occurred along the one way system in Star Lane in Ipswich between the Lower Brook Street and Fore Street junctions around 6pm yesterday.

One motorist, who did not wish to be named, said he was almost caught up in a collision around 7.20pm with vehicles in front of him and those coming onto Star Lane from Slade Street.

He said: “It’s very dangerous there.

“You don’t know what to do because cars are thinking they can join the road but then they are nearly driving head-on into the side of you.”

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council, which is in charge of highways repairs, said the issue was reported to the authority around 6pm.

The company that operates the lights was contacted and engineers were sent out to replace “components on the signals”, the spokesman said.

They were there for 15 minutes and the problem was resolved by 8pm.