PORTISHEAD'S Cabstand junction has seen its first accident – six months after the traffic lights were switched off.

The accident happened when one car shunted into another on the Waitrose garage side of the junction.

It is understood a motorist had stopped for a pedestrian to cross the road and another vehicle shunted into the rear of the vehicle.

No one was injured in the smash and neither car was badly damaged.

North Somerset Council switched off the lights at the controversial junction in September as part of a four-week trial to see if it helped ease traffic congestion in the town. The trial was hailed as a huge success, with the once lengthy tailbacks along the High Street disappearing and traffic moving freely through the town.

The lights have remained hooded over ever since and are eventually expected to be removed altogether. The crash was the first to happen since the lights went off on September 14.

Council highways chiefs have said despite the incident, the lights will remain switched off.

North Somerset Council executive member for highways, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "The fact that there has been one minor accident in the last six months is not going to make us change our minds about the lights being switched off."