RESIDENTS strode out in force to protest for traffic calming measures after two youngsters were killed in 12 months on the same stretch of road.

More than 150 people gathered on South Road, Morecambe, last Saturday despite heavy rain armed with banners and signs calling for speed curbing devices.

And now Geraldine Smith, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, has joined in the fight.

She expressed her horror and dismay after a 12-year-old boy was killed last Tuesday evening - the second death on the Morecambe road.

Speeding She says the accident confirms the fears of residents and action should be taken now before another life is lost.

"I have written once more in the strongest terms to the police, the county council and Lancaster City Council asking for their support in the provision of traffic calming measures. Speed kills. We simply cannot allow another fatal accident to happen on South Road."

She says she has received numerous letters throughout the year from residents concerned about speeding motorists.

After being bombarded with concern from residents about the safety on South Road, Ms Smith says she wrote to Graham Harding, the director of the Environment Dictorate at Lancashire County Council in May asking for traffic calming measures.

Potential In response, a letter from the County Council last May explained that although South Road was one of the many sites considered for inclusion in the Community Concern Mobile Camera Enforcement Programme, it was not one of the 12 sites included in the current programme for the Lancaster District'.

It went on to say that selection for inclusion was based on a number of aspects most importantly speed and accidentsthe limited resources available will be prioritised on the accident saving potential'.

A County Hall spokesperson told the Citizen this week: "We are very concerned that this tragic accident has happened on South Road although the exact circumstances will not be known until the police investigation is completed.

"When their report is available, discussions will take place with Lancaster City Council and the police to identify possible measures that are both feasible as well as being generally acceptable to residents, the emergency services and road users.

"Consultations will be carried out on any proposals resulting from these discussions before a final decision is made."

Bill Housten, a resident on South Road, says: "Saturday was a really good day and hopefully we are starting to get the message across, but we will not stop until it is sorted.

"We don't believe that everything that can be done is being done at the moment, but we will wait and see what the consultation comes out with."