Police were forced to send two units who should have been responding to 999 calls to manage traffic in Orpington after five sets of traffic lights and ULEZ cameras were vandalised.

This morning (Thursday) a crash occurred in Court Road - the same place as where traffic lights and ULEZ cameras were cut down.

Chief Inspector Priya Shome said the vandals "are putting the public at risk" and urged them to consider "the danger they are causing to road users."

Police were alerted shortly before 8.30am today (Thursday) to the crash involving two vehicles at the location of one of the damaged traffic lights on Court Road.

A six-year-old girl and an adult have been taken to hospital after the crash.

The pair were taken to hospital for head injuries and their condition has been assessed as non-life-threatening.

Chief Inspector Shome, based in Bromley, said: "We are investigating the criminal damage to five sets of traffic lights in the Orpington area overnight which has caused major traffic management issues.

"Two police units, who should have been available to answer 999 calls, were instead required to spend the morning managing traffic.

"The people who are carrying out this criminal damage are putting the public at risk. This morning, there has been a collision between two cars on Court Road, at the location of one of the damaged traffic lights, in which a child was injured.

"I would urge the people carrying out these crimes to stop immediately and think about the danger they are causing to road users."

A resident told the News Shopper that the cameras were cut down at the junction where Spur Road and Court Road meet.

The photos show the poles on the ground with cars on the road next to it trying to navigate the junction without traffic lights.

On Facebook, many Orpington residents shared their thoughts on the spate of ULEZ cameras cut down across the area recently.

Many people shared the opinion that, while they understand the desire to protest the ULEZ expansion, it becomes dangerous when it starts to affect traffic lights.

A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said: “A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.33am today (18 January) to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction between Court Road and Old Priory Avenue, Orpington.

“We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, a medic in a fast response car and an incident response officer.

“Our first medic arrived on scene in approximately four minutes.

“We treated six patients at the scene before taking them all to hospital.”

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called shortly before 08.30hrs on Thursday, 18 January. Two vehicles were involved in a collision.

“An adult and a six-year-old girl, were taken to hospital to be treated for head injuries.

“Their condition has been assessed as non life-threatening.”

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters were called to a fuel spillage following a road traffic collision on the junction of Old Priory Avenue and Court Road in Orpington.

“The Brigade was called at 0848 and the incident was over for firefighters by 0909. One fire engine from Orpington Fire Station attended the scene.”