RESIDENTS fear there will be traffic chaos outside their homes once Sharoe Green's maternity unit is transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital site next month.

Householders living in the area surrounding the hospital believe their streets, already at breaking point, will not be able to cope with the amount of traffic following the unit's move on September 4.

Residents claim they have had trouble getting in and out of their driveways or finding on-street parking for years and say children and elderly people are endangered by the high volume of traffic on the roads.

"Workers arrive at the hospital at 6.30am and don't leave until five or six at night, it's a nightmare," said Ann Porter, 68, of Heversham Avenue, which is behind Booths supermarket.

"I've lived here for more than 30 years and I've seen it go from bad to worse."

Mother-of-three Laura Taylor, also of Heversham Avenue, said drivers have even parked outside her driveway, blocking her car in.

"It's that busy out there I don't let my kids play outside," she said.

"I dread to think what it will be like when the maternity unit moves. There are some green areas at the hospital, why can't they put more parking there?"

While hospital chiefs are trying to find a solution to the traffic and parking problems, residents believe a bigger, on-site parking area is the only way forward.

David Stowe, 41, of nearby Aysgarth Avenue, added: "I think a park and ride at Broughton roundabout, off Garstang Road, to deal with the hospital traffic and that coming off the M6 could help alleviate the problems."

Lynn Crook, 29, of Heversham Avenue, added: "A multi-storey car park would be the best solution."

Director of facilities and services for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Ian Cox, said the trust was looking at several options including the possibility of a park and ride.

Mr Cox said: "These options include submitting a planning application to Preston City Council for an additional 250 car park spaces, the provision of a bus service between the two hospitals in Preston and Chorley and the possibility of introducing a park and ride system that will also serve the two hospital sites."

Preston City Council revealed last week that its environment and sustainability board will conduct a year long study to consider solutions to traffic issues surrounding the hospital.

Sharoe Green ward councillor, Eric Fazackerly, said: "The study is long overdue for the residents of my ward and for the people of Preston, I don't want to predict the outcome but this a move in the right direction."