A MORECAMBE road is to be closed after two deaths in a year but a local councillor believes traffic will now be just as dangerous in side streets.

Cllr Evelyn Archer says another child could die after Lancaster City Council decided to shut South Road following the deaths of Stuart Ridehalgh, 12, in September 2004 and Thomas Anderton in August 2003.

A campaign was launched in September when residents called for traffic calming to stop motorists using the road as a speedway' - but city councillors opted to close the road instead.

Residents and ward councillors Mrs Archer and Shirley Burns battled to overturn the decision at a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee.

Now, Cllr Archer says she is worried about the repercussions of the road being closed.

"I share the residents concerns as no-one wants to see a child killed, and on the roads off South Road there are lots of children and no play areas for them. I'm worried that another child may become a victim," she says.

"The traffic has got to go somewhere and motorists will find routes down the side roads.

"Two deaths in two years is two too many. We wanted traffic calming and not road closure but the members of the committee thought it was the best option despite the fact that more than 100 people living nearby didn't think so.

"They are not listening to the public and they will be the ones affected by the rat-running which will start happening on other roads."

Jim Robson, city council head of engineering services, says: "The nature of South Road, a straight road 1,400 metres long, is felt to encourage drivers to exceed the speed limit.

"It is proposed to close short lengths of the road to motor vehicles near its junctions with Langdale Road and Farnlea Avenue on an experimental basis to enable us to assess the benefits and impacts of closure."

Work is expected to be completed by the end of March and the road will be closed for a maximum of 18 months.