VULNERABLE East End pedestrians are being put at risk by sub-standard crossings, it was revealed this week.

Nine crossings in Tower Hamlets fail to meet minimum government guidelines – one of the highest numbers of any London borough.

The figures were revealed after London Assembly Liberal Democrat leader Caroline Pidgeon put Mayor Boris Johnson under the hammer last week, asking him how many pedestrian crossings failed to meet basic standards.

It was revealed 115 pedestrian crossings across London do not meet Department of Transport guidelines, failing to provide the minimum time for people to cross and sonic aids for the vision impaired.

The junction of Whitechapel Road, Vallance Road, and New Road was flagged-up as one such crossing.

Caroline Pidgeon was joined by Lib Dem candidate for the Tower Hamlets mayoral election John GriffIths who inspected the dangerous crossings earlier this week.

Mr Griffths said: “It’s outrageous that vulnerable people in our borough are being put at risk by the refusal of the London Mayor to rectify this admitted problem more quickly.

“The council should also really be lobbying harder on this.”

A TfL spokesman said: “Almost 90 per-cent of the signalised pedestrian facilities across London have either tactile cones and/or audible guidance to assist visually impaired people. All traffic signals across London were designed to meet the Department for Transport’s advice relevant at the time of their installation and continue to provide adequate and safe crossing times for pedestrians.

“The national accessibility standards for pedestrian crossings have changed over the years and, in line with the accepted practice across the country, TfL is bringing all its signals up to current standards through its rolling modernisation programme.”