BUSINESSMAN Harry Johnston is seeing red over a set of traffic lights after a "confusing" signal cost him £450.

Mr Johnston, managing director of R&G Construction in Heywood Road, Prestwich, received a summons after he allegedly jumped a red light at the corner of Bury New Road and Fairfax Road in Prestwich.

But the 54-year-old, who actually reacted to a green light shown on the pedestrian signals just a few yards down the road, claims the signals are misleading and out of alignment.

Mr Johnston, pictured at the traffic lights, employed a solicitor to fight his case after being certain he had not intentionally broken the law.

But even though the case was rejected by Bury Magistrates, the legal fees set him back £450 and he believes the council should never have let the situation occur.

He said: "I can't be the only person to have suffered. There are potentially an awful lot of people who have been prosecuted without them realising what they have done wrong."

Mr Johnston explained that, in hindsight, he knew what must have happened.

He said: "As you approach the traffic lights intending to turn left into Fairfax Road, the head of the lights goes out of the field of vision and you have to lean forward and look up. You can only see the pedestrian lights which are on the centre islands. This is both dangerous and unfair to the motorist. "I must have seen the green light on the pedestrian sequence and reacted to that," he added. "If I had seen the red light of the main lights I would have stopped."

Mr Johnston, who prides himself on holding a clean driving licence, added: "I am always very careful at traffic lights as my brother died in accident some years ago at a set of lights. He said: "I have been driving since I was 17 and have owned some very fast models but never even been convicted of speeding.

"I was adamant I had not intentionally done anything wrong and went back to look after receiving the summons."

Concerned about the summons, Mr Johnston contacted the police, who suggested it was a matter for Bury Council.

He said: "At first they said there was nothing wrong with the lights. Then, two days before I was due in court, they wrote back admitting the pedestrian lights were out of alignment. I had to plead guilty but was advised to consult a solicitor.

After doing just that, and asking for another court appearance, Mr Johnston said he was told that, in the interests of justice, it was not right to proceed.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: "We have had previous correspondence with Mr Johnston and have stated that we have no record of any other complaints relating to any ambiguity regarding the signal control.

"Observations at the site do not indicate any likelihood of confusion of the signal.

"We are not aware of any change in the situation but, in light of court proceedings, we will obviously carry out another visit to the site."