APOLOGIES are due to whoever put the sign up at the Harmby traffic lights advising motorists to pull up to the line and wait for the lights to go green.

Far from being a patronising waste of metal that’s contributing in a small way to the nation’s debt problem, as suggested in last week’s column, it turns out it’s an essential roadside addition.

Several people have been in touch to say there has been a long-running problem of motorists stopping several feet short of the line on the Constable Burton side. The sensor buried in the road doesn’t pick them up and the lights stay on red. One reader says he’s had to get out of his car, trudge to the front and tap on the window of the first car to get them to move forward a few feet so everyone can get on with their day.

Apparently, officials have even received complaints that the lights aren’t working when actually it’s just that drivers aren’t using them properly. Anyway, sorry for being rude about the sign.

We had an interesting experience with a locum GP recently.

A boy had a minor ailment and my wife sought medical advice. ”What do you want me to do about it?” asked the doc, after the unpleasant symptoms had been disclosed. Fair enough, perhaps, although a bit of reassurance and possibly some medicine is tradition.

The incident may have escaped a mention and I’d now be yet again wittering on about roadkill or the notso- mysterious holes that appeared in the fence after a boy powerwashed the car had he not added: “Do you not think it might be something more serious?”

“I hadn’t until you just mentioned it,” the wife replied, taken aback.

Fortunately, it wasn’t anything more serious and after some antibiotics he was right as rain, but next time we’re going to do some revision before visiting the GP in case there’s a written test to be completed before a prescription can be issued.

Some of the details of this anecdote may have been changed to avoid embarrassment to those involved.

Or maybe they haven’t.