Rats chew through signal box causing traffic disruption at Rodley roundabout in Leeds

Traffic lights were put out of order at Rodley roundabout in west Leeds on Sunday evening (April 5) after a fire broke out within the signal controller cabinet.

Posting to social media, Coun Craig Timmins, representing Calverley and Farsley, confirmed the problem had been started by vermin that had gained access to the cabinet.

“The signal controller cabinet at Rodley roundabout developed a fault on Sunday night. It's likely that vermin had entered the cabinet and chewed through some live cables causing a fire, to which the fire brigade were called along with our maintenance provider,” he said.

“The old cabinet has been removed and a replacement is being built up currently.”

Coun Timmins indicated that installation of the new cabinet would be completed later today or early tomorrow, after which the signals will once again become operational.

Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service have been approached for comment.