A STRING of cars were damaged after smashing into an unlit traffic island in Kirby Cross.

Drivers pulling over towards the middle of Frinton Road to pass a parked car on Tuesday night crashed into the obstruction.

They did not see the traffic island which has been unlit for several weeks since its illuminated bollards were knocked down.

At least eight cars hit the island and had damage ranging from shredded tyres to cracked alloy rims.

Duncan Robinson, from Kirby Cross, went back to investigate after his fatherin- law’s car was damaged.

He said: “Each car tried to pull around a parked car, but the island just wasn’t visible enough without the bollards on it.

“A whole line of cars had hit it one after another and when we got back to the scene there were a lot of angry drivers talking to the police about it.

“All of the cars were damaged within the space of a few minutes. There were a couple of cones placed on the island, but it wasn’t visible enough in the darkness. It needs to be lit up.”

Signs were put up at the side of the road yesterday morning to alert drivers to the island while the bollards are replaced.