Colourful pedestrian crossings pose a risk to the elderly and visually impaired, campaigners have warned.

       Disability group the Access Association has warned that multi-coloured crossings "including pieces that promote inclusion" such as rainbow Pride patterns should not come at a cost of "undermining the safety" of the vulnerable.

       The group said "this form of public art poses risks to disabled people" and called on the Department for Transport to ban crossings deviating from the traditional black and white stripes.

       In a letter, Pip Jackson, its president, told ministers that the visually impaired rely on the consistency of "long-established and recognisable wide zebra stripes" and changes could hamper guide dogs' "willingness to cross the road" with their owners.

       The letter said irregular patterns could cause balance problems for the elderly, while the meaning of brightly-coloured crossings may "not be understood at all" by those with learning disabilities or dementia.

       Reacting to the letter, Prof June Andrews, a dementia specialist, said rainbow crossings, representing the LGBT flag, can present a danger for those with a "reduced capacity to cope with change".

       The Access Association letter said: "We ask that you write to all responsible highway authorities advising them to stop installation of any new colourful crossing schemes with immediate effect. Overall, we believe that colourful crossings will impact users' confidence to travel and force some to use other routes or unsafe practices.

       "We consider the lack of guidance on this issue will allow the continued proliferation of colourful crossings which will have adverse impacts."

       The DfT has been contacted for comment on the latest guidance on the installation of multi-coloured crossings.

       Designs ditching the black and white striped pattern of pedestrian crossings have become more prevalent, with the UK's first permanent example being installed in Herne Hill, south London, in 2019.

       Two new crossings in Leicester city centre, featuring multicoloured geometric patterns rather than rainbows, have been installed at a cost of ￡23,000.

       Ms Andrews warned the city's council that the public art scheme would have an adverse impact on those with disabilities, while local Green Party representatives said colourful crossings "are a nightmare for many disabled people – this needs resolving".

       Andrew Smith, the council's director of planning, said it had received no other complaints about the crossings, which "meet all national regulations" and provide "full facilities for users with a mobility or visual impairment".