PUPILS could be at serious risk of being involved in a traffic accident, two schools have warned.

Following the deaths of two youngsters since August 2003, Lancaster City Council has decided to shut South Road in Morecambe in a bid to prevent further tragic accidents.

But Duncan Brown, head of Lancaster Road Primary and Nursery School, says although he believes something does need to be done, closing South Road could have serious repercussions.

Mr Brown told the Citizen: "If the road is closed there is a potential threat to children. Something has to be done but I am not sure that this has been properly thought through.

"I believe it will lead to an increased hazard to our pupils and their families."

He says when he found out about the proposed road closure he was disappointed that the school was not consulted by the city council.

And he adds: "I have suggested that the council should make Beaufort Road and Burlington Avenue access only but officers say the police would not be able to police that a statement I find very worrying."

And a letter from governors at Great Wood Primary School, also sent to the city council, says: "We feel that it may cause more of an unsafe situation and put even more children at risk.

"If the measures are put into place, people will get used to using Beaufort Road as a through route and we are concerned that further accidents will be caused."

Hundreds of signatures have been stacking up against the road closure idea which residents, teachers and parents claim has not been logically' thought out.

Residents living on surrounding roads have launched a campaign separate to the South Road residents but with the same goal of preventing a closure - and have amassed 600 plus names.

They say that the closure will cause a ratrun' on surrounding streets and echo fears that there could be more accidents.

Rodger Dennison, who lives on Beaufort Road, near Great Wood Primary, says there have been reports of three near misses' of people being knocked down recently caused by through traffic.

"If the issue is speeding then a speed camera should be installed but shutting the road will raise the risk of an accident."

The council wants to close the road for 18 months as part of an experimental period, but Mr Dennison asks: "If the scheme does not appear to work, is the council going to hold up its hand and stop it.