POLICE officers are ignoring a one-way system that was introduced at the Worcester station for safety reasons.

Sharon Payne, who runs The Dragon Inn Pub on The Tything, said police cars have been seen exiting through the gateway on Britannia Road, even though it is only supposed to be used as an entrance.

And a spokesman for Worcester Police has admitted one or two have breached the system.

Last Monday the force introduced a new one-way traffic system for vehicles entering and leaving the Castle Street station.

Police cars, vans and prisoner transport vehicles are to enter the station's car park through the gate off Britannia Road and exit via Loves Grove.

The rear entrance of the pub is opposite the Britannia Road entrance.

Miss Payne said: "The police think that because they are in unmarked vehicles we won't notice them.

"But they stick out a mile because the coppers are still in uniform. There were two incidents within an hour of each other last Tuesday."

She branded the new entrance a safety risk.

"It's a nightmare," she said.

When pulling out of the pub's carpark you can't see the cars coming down the road. One day there is going to be an accident."

The police introduced the system in order to address health and safety issues relating to the previous two-way traffic flow at the Loves Grove gateway.

A spokesman said: "Britannia Road is a two-way public highway and our use of it is in keeping with that - as should be the driving of everyone else using it, including motorists reversing onto it from properties.

"The internal one-way system was introduced only on Monday and is currently bedding in.

"In the circumstances - and against the background of a busy city police station with officers reacting swiftly to calls from the public - it is not surprising that one or two may

have not adhered to the system immediately.

"Irrespective of that, however, no motoring offences were committed by anyone exiting the car park into Britannia Road."