SIGNS are being altered at the approach to a toll-road paypoint that claimed its 112th damaged vehicle yesterday.

Durham County Council prides itself on pioneering the country's award-winning first toll-road, which has drastically reduced traffic on the narrow road from Durham's Market Place to the cathedral since it was introduced in October 2002.

Drivers leaving the area pay £2 at the exit point, which has a rising bollard to ensure payment.

Some drivers have suffered when the bollard has risen under their vehicle. Critics said the instruction signs were not clear enough and that stop/go lights at the pay machine did not face drivers directly.

Yesterday, an elderly tourist from New Zealand fell foul of the device. Her hired Peugeot car had to be towed away with a damaged radiator. The incident took place shortly before a sign warning that the bollard was ahead was erected nearby.

A county council spokeswoman said the sign was previously nearer the bollard, but was moved to make drivers more aware.

She said: "We will carry out a series of very minor amendments next month so that signs are angled differently. The white lines will be improved and we will carry out anti-skid surfacing."

She said the system was constantly reviewed, but that 150,000 drivers had passed through the paypoint without problems.

Local breakdown company owner Fred Henderson said the stop/go lights should face drivers and that the instructions should be improved.