A FLAW in the lighting system on a Hereford cycleway means that all of the lights can by switched off with ease by the public.

Herefordshire Council said they are aware of the issue on the Rotherwas Cycleway, which runs between the city and Rotherwas.

Reader Andrew Keir raised the issue with the Hereford Times after his 13-year-old grandson told him how the lights on the path can be switched off by shining a torch into a sensor for the lights, which is at a low level.

Mr Keir said: "Apparently this is widely known by kids in the area, who turn the lights off for a joke on each other, but as he pointed out the path runs through quite a remote area, and if the lights were suddenly switched off the whole area is suddenly in the dark and could be used by others with more sinister intentions."

He said the sensor needs to be relocated on a pole that is inaccessible.

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said: “Balfour Beatty Living Places are aware of the issues with the sensor for the lights on the Rotherwas Cycleway.

"The safety of the public is our top priority and we are investigating options to relocate the sensor to a safer location.”