A SET of traffic lights were down at a busy St Albans junction on the same day two cars collided, leaving one man in hospital.

A blue Honda Civic and a grey Mercedes Elegance crashed at the Ancient Briton junction at about 5.30am on Wednesday morning. The driver of the Honda had to be cut free from his car and was treated at Watford General Hospital for minor injuries.

Hertfordshire Highways has since confirmed to the Review there was a fault with the traffic lights at the junction of Beech Road and Harpenden Road on the morning of the accident. Highways engineers were warned of the problem at about 7.10am that morning.

Highways spokeswoman Jo Brown said: "Our engineers went out to investigate and, after changing the mains power supply system within the unit, the lights were put back on that same morning. We appreciate that this is a very busy junction and apologise for delays caused."

The other driver was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Police cordoned off Beech Road and Seymore Road for about an hour and 20 minutes. The roads were reopened at 6.50am.