Rhondda Cynon Taf Council will be trialling touchless technology at six busy pedestrian crossings in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

The detection technology, funded by the Welsh Government, will allow pedestrians to activate the signal controlled crossings by moving their hand under a sensor rather than pushing a button.

The council said the technology could be implemented at all its signal-controlled crossings if the pilot is a success.

Cllr Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transportation, said: ‘The technology will help reduce the spread of the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we know it can live on surfaces for some time.

'But it also has other important advantages for the future – including that it is more reliable, and also provides a solution for people who experience difficulty with mobility and may find it difficult to reach a button in order to cross the road safely.’