A Bradford barber is at the centre of a “blame and claim” case after a pedestrian walked into his shop sign.

Matt Lyons has run his hairdressing business on the corner of Halifax Road and Bottomley Street, Woodside, for 12 years during which time the 4ft x 4ft advert for his shop – Lyons Mane – has stood on posts at the end of his property.

The boards stand some 5ft 8ins off the ground and Mr Lyons said he never had any complaints until the incident on August 28 when a passer-by walked into the sign, striking the top of his head.

Mr Lyons, 38, who arrived at work shortly after the accident, saw the man bleeding from a cut head and climbing into an ambulance and asked him if he was OK.

“He replied he’d been hit on the head by my sign as he stepped off the pavement to avoid some old ladies and that I would be hearing from his solicitor,” said Mr Lyons.

A week later a claim for damages arrived from Bradford-based Wilsons solicitors, acting on behalf of Stephen Jowett.

The letter states: “Our client was walking on the highway when he sustained injuries as a result of hitting his head on a sign.

“Our client is of average height and the sign was placed on the highway/or indeed on your land at such a height that it was a danger to the public.”

The letter advises Mr Lyons to contact his insurers so they can begin correspondence with a view to speeding admission of liability.

It also states they have a witness who saw Mr Jowett’s injury and who had suffered a similar injury involving the sign himself.

The solicitor’s letter on behalf of Mr Jowett continues with what it says is the “factual background” to the claim: “He was walking on the highway, there were two people approaching him, he moved to the side but continued walking and he hit his head on the sign.

“As our client was struck by the sign he was in immediate pain and shock.”

Mr Jowett went Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment to a wound to his head.

While Mr Lyons has now extended his boundary fence around the sign, he has denied liability for the claim. He said: “This is now in the hands of my insurance company, who have taken statements from two other witnesses and I am going to fight it.”

A spokesman for Wilsons solicitors said its client did not want to comment but said: “There had been at least one similar prior incident and the owners have now placed a fence around the scene which shows that they appreciate the risk they created.”